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A**- £ *f? 


RELIQ^UES 


O V 


ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY. 


vol. n. 




f \ 


RELISHES 

O F 

ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY: 

CONSISTING OP 

Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, and other 

Pieces of our earlier Poets, 

Together with fome few of later Date. 

THE THIRD EDITION. 


LONDON: 

Printed for J. Dopilit in Fill-Mill, 
MDCCLXXV. 




-/ ' » +*?,1 




''Y 


* '■•■ 


( i ) 
CONTENTS OF VOLUME THE SECOND. 

BOOK THE FIRST, 

I. Z?i CHARD of Almaigne — fag. I 
*• On^be Death of K. Edward I. — — 6 

3. An original ballad by Chaucer — • — II 

4. 9T&* Tarnament of Tottenham — • — 13 

5. For /£* ViBory at Agincourt — — 25 
6* 72* Not-browne Mayd , — _ 2 7 
7. A balet by the Earl Rivers — — 44 
$. Cupid's Afault. By Lord Faux — — 46 
9. &> Aldingar — - _ — * a 

10. STZ* Guherlunzii man. Scot. By K. James V. — 60 

II. On Thomas Lord Cromwell — —64 
12. Harpalus. An ^ancient Englifi P aft oral — 63 
J 3. &£/« am/ Makyne. An ancient Scottijh Paftoral 73 
14* &*//; Herd/man tell to me — — — . 79 

15. iT. Edward IV. and the Tanner of Tamworth — S3 

16. As ye came from the Holy Land — — 93 

17. Hardy knute. A Scottijh Fragment — - 96 

BOOK THE SECOND. 

I ~ A ballad of Luther 9 the Pofe, a Cardinal, and * 

Hufiandman — — — nj 

2« 7«*» Anderfon my Jo. A Scottijh Song — i*t 

5. Little John Nobody — — ^3 

^ The tieir of Lynne <-» — 128 

^6. Gafcoigmfs 


fi 


CONTENTS. 


6. 

7- 
8. 

9- 

10. 


i. 

2. 

3- 

4* 

5- 
6. 

7- 
8. 

9- 
so. 

21. 

22. 
*3- 
24. 

26. 

27. 


GaJcoigne f s Frdife of the fair Bridges, afterwards 

Lady Sondes — — — 138 

Fair Rofamond •— — 143 

Queen Eleanor* s Coif ejfioh — • ■*— 155 

The fturdy Rock — — 160 

7$* Beggar's Daughter of Bednat Green w *— 162 
An Ejfay on the Word Fit, and the ancient Bah- 

lad-finging. — — 168, 389, 399 

Fancy and Defire. By the Earl of Oxford — 177 
Sir Andrew Bafton ;fci - —*• 1 79 

£<ft/p ^»»* Both well's Lament. A Scottijk Seng 196 
ST£* Murder of the King of Scots — 199 

^ &?»»*/ by 3J. Elizabeth — — 203 

Tfo J5T. */* 5ro/j and And. Browne. By Elder ton 2*6 
The Bonny Earl of Murray. A Scottijb Song — - 212 
Young Waters. A Scottijb Song — —214 

Mary Ambree — — — 218 

Brav* Lord Willoughby — - — • 223 

ViSorious men of Earth. By J. Shirley — 228 

>The winning of Cales . — — 229 

The Sfanijh Lady's Love — — 233 

Argentik and Curan. Sy W. Warner — 237 

Conn's Fate — - — — • — 254 

Jane Shore — —* — 254 

Cory don's doleful Knell •— — 265 

BOOK THE THIRD. 


SJfay 00 the Metre of Pierce Plowman's Vifions — *fo 
I. The Complaint of Confcience — • 269/283 

2. jP/tfl* 


CONTENTS. iti 

1. Plain Truth and Blind Ignorance — —288 

3. y£* 'wandering Jew — — — 295 

4. The Lye. By Sir Walter Raleigh — fag. 301 

5. Verjes (vise, two Sonnets J by K. James I. — 305 

6. K. John and the Abbot of Canterbury — 308 

7. Ton meaner Beauties, Py Sir H. Wotton *— 314. 

8. The old and young Courtier — — 315 

9. Sir John Suckling's Campaigne — — 320 

10. 7i Altheafrom Prifon. By Col, Lovelace —^ 323 

11. The Downfal of Charing~Crofs — — 325 
19* Loyalty confined. By Sir Roger L'Efirange — 328 
I3. Verfes by King Charles I. — — 332 
If 7i* £«/* of Rebellious Houjhold Stuff — 336 

15. The Baffled Knight, &c. — — 341 

16. #^y& pale ? By Sir John Suckling . — 349 

17. Old Tom of Bedlam. Mad Song the firfi —.350 

18. The Diflratfed Puritan. Mad Song the fecond — » 353 

19. The Lunatic Lover. Mad Song the third — 358 

20. The Lady diftraded with Love. Mad Song the 

fourth — — — 361 

21. The DifiraQed Lover. Mad Song the fifth — 363 
21.. The Frantic Lady. Mad Song the fixth — 365 

23. Lilli'burlero. By Lord Wharton — 367 

24. 7%; Braes of Tar rovj. In imitation of the ancient 

Scottifb Manner. By W. Hamilton — 370 

25. Admiral Hofier 9 s Ghoft. By Mr. Glover — 376 
26.' Jemmy Davjfon. By Mr. Shenfione —380 
tj. ThtGJofary — -*■ — 385 


Though 


Though fome make flight of Libels, yet yon may fee 
by them how the wind fits : As take a ftraw and 
throw it up into the air, you may fee by that which 
way the wind is, which you fhall not do by cafting op 
a ftone. More folid things do not (hew the com* 
plexion of the times fo well as Ballads and Libels. 

Sbldbn's Table-talk. 


k<£H3&®.<£> 


pp ANCIENT POETRY* 
&c. 

SERIES the SECOND. 
BOOK I. 

r. 

RICHARD OF ALMAIGNE, 

" A ballad made by one of the adherents to Simon de 
" Montfort, earl efLeicefier,fmn after the battle of Lewes, 
" -which laas fought May 14, 1 264," 

— affords a curious fpecimen ef ancient Satire, and jherwt 
that the liberty, affumed by the good people of this realm, of 
abufng their kings and princes at pleefure, is a privilege of 
vtry Sing funding. 


2 ANCIENT POEMS. 

To render this antique libel intelligible, the reader is te 
underft and that juft before the battle of Lewes which proved 
fo fatal to the interefts of HiHfy^S^X the barons had offered 
his brother^ic^ard King of the Romans 30,000/. to pro- 
cure a peace upon fuch terms i as would have divefted Henry 
of all his regal po/wer 9 and therefore the treaty proved qbor* 
tive^Tbe confeljuetices of that battle ate well known : the 
king! prince Ea%X3iard bisfon, his, brother Richard, and many 
of his friends fetyiinto the bapdjt of theft enepues : wbilejwo 
great barons °jtyp£ kjng*s pq\j&> John earl of Wartes^and 
Hugh Bigot taking's, Juftieiah, had been glad to efcape into 
France* . - . - -t'l^J-.- ••.";;• 

In the ift'ftanxa the-ofbr0trdftm tf 'thirty thou- 
sand pounds is alluded to, but with the ufual mifreprefent ac- 
tion of party malevolence, is afferted to have been the exorbi- 
tant demand of the kings .brother. 

With regard to the zd ft* the Reader is to note that 
Richard* along with the earh(dm , of Cornwall^ h^ft he honours 4 
«/*Walinc2ford and Eyre confirmed to him on his marriage 
with Sane hi a daughter of th* Count of Provence, in 1 243. 
Wi n dsor caftle 'was the chief fortrefs belonging to the 
king, and had beat garrifoned by foreigners t a circumftunce, 
which furnijhes out the burthen of each ftahza. 

The 3d ft. alludes to a remarkable circumftance, which 
happened on the day of the battle of Lewes* -After the bat- 
tle was loft 9 Richard king of the Romans took refuge in a 
Windmill^ which he baricadoed, and maintained for fome 
time againft the Barons, but in the evening was obliged to 
fur re ndp\ See a: very full account: of tbih in the x Ctrppicl* 
of Mailros. Oxpn. 1684./. 229. 

. The \th ft, is of obvious interpretation : JHthara\ who 
had been elefted king of the Romans in 1256,. and b*d\* 
afterwards gone over to take poffeffion of his dignity \, was in. . 
the year 1259 about to. return into England, whest the barons 
raifed a popular clamour, that he was bringing with him 
foreigners to over-run the kingdom,: upon whicfi hf was 
forced to difmifs almoft all his followers, otherwife t heterosis, 
would have oppofed his landing. 

In 


ANCIENT POEM 5. 3 

In the \th ft. the writer regrets the efcape of the Sari of 
Warren, and in the 6th and jth fls. infinuates that if it 
and Sir Hugh Bigot onci fell into the hands of their adver* 
faries, they Jhould never more return home* A circumflana t 
'which fixes the date of this ballad ', for in the year 1 265 
both theje noblemett landed in South Wales, and the royal 
party foon after gained the afcendant. See Holingjhed, Pta* 
pin, 8cc. 

The following is copied from a 'very ancient MS, in the 
Britijh Mttfeum. [Harl. MSS. 2259./ 23.] This MS. 
is judged, from the peculiarities of the writing, to be not 
later than the time of Richard II. ; th being every tuber* 
txprejfed by the char after \> - 9 the y is pointed after the Saxon 
manner, and the 1 hath an oblique ftroke over it. 

Prefixed to this ancient libel on government is a fmall de» 
fign, which the engraver intended Jhould correfpond with 
thefubjeft. On the one fide a Satyr , (emblem of Petulance 
and Ridicule) is trampling on the enfigns of Royalty ; on the 
other F aft ion under the mafque of Liberty is exciting Ignorance 
and Popular Rage to deface the Royal Image ; which 
fiands on a pedefial infcribed magna charta, to denote 
that the rights of the king, as well as thoft of the people r are 
founded on the laws ; and that to attack one, is in effeft to 
dmolijb both, 

SITTETH alle ftille, ant herkneth to me ; 
Tie kyng of Alemaigne, bi mi leautc, . 
Thritti thoufent pound afkede tie 
Forte make the pees in the countre, 

Ant fo he dude' more. 5 

Richard, thah thou be ever trichard, 
Tricttien (halt theu never more. 

B 2 Richard 

Ttr. *, kyo, MS* 


4, ANCIENT POEMS. 

/ 

Richard of Alemaigne, whil that he wes kying, . 
He fpende al is trefour opon fwyvyng, 
Haveth he nout of Walingford oferlyng, • 10 

Let him habbe, afe he brew, bale to dryng, 

Maugre Wyndefore. 
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c. . 

The kyngf of Alemaigne wende do ful wel, 
He faifede the mulne for a caftel, 15. 

With hareiharpe fwrerdes he grounde the ftel, 
He wende that the fayles were mangonel 

To helpe Wyndefore. 
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c. 

The kyng of Alemaigne gederede ys hoft, 20 

Makede him a caflel of a mulne poft, 
Wende with is prude, ant is muchele boft, 
Brohte from Alemayne mony fori goft 

To ftore Wyndefore. 
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c. 25 

By God, that is aboven ous, he dude muche fynne, 
That lette paflen over fee the erl of Warynne : 
He hath robbed Engelond, the mores, ant th fenne, 
The gold, ant the felver, and y-boren henne, 

For love of Wyndefore, 30 

Richard, thah thou be ever, &c» 


Sire 


' ANCIENT POEMS- 5 

Sire Simond de Moantfort hath fuore bl ys chyn, 
Heveyde he nou here the erl of Warxn, 
Shuld he never more come to is yn, 
Ne with (held, ne with fpere, ne with other gyn, 35 

To help of Wyndefore. 
Richard, thah thou be ever, &c. 
e 

Sire Simond de Montfort hath fuore bi ys *fot% 
Hevede he nou here Sire Hue de Bigot % : 
Al he (hulde grante here twelfmoneth fcot, 40 

jShulde he never more with his fot pot 

To helpe Wyndefore. 
Richard, (hah -thou be ever trichard, 
Tricthen (halt thou never more. 


Ver, 38. top or cop. 

Ver. 40. g'te here. MS* i. e, grant their. Vid, Gtofi. 


% # The fatirical Ballad on Richard of Alma igne 
will rife in its importance with the curious Reader, when he 
finds, that it is even believed to have occafioned a Law in 
our fiat ute Book, viz. " Againft flanderous reports or tales, 
" to caufe difcord betwizt king and people." (Westm. 
Primer, c. 34. anno 3. Edw. I.) That it had this 
effe£t is the opinion of an eminent Writer : See " Obferva- 
*' tions upon the Statutes , chiefly the. more Ancient, &c" 
4/0. zd Edit. 1766. /. 7!* 

If this very learned and ingenious* Antiquary would exa- 
mine the original MS. in the Harl. Collection, whence our 
Ballad was extracted, he would, I believe, finid other fati- 
rical and defamatory rhymes of the fame age, that might 
have their Jhare in contributing to this flrfl Law againft 
Libels. 


B 3 n. ON 


ANCIENT POEMS, 


II. 


PN THE DEATH OF K. EDWARD 

T H « F I R £ T, 

JET* ./Jaw £*r/ ciry^arly attempt at Elegy* Edwar d» I. 
W!W 7*/p 7. 1 307, /» {£* ^th year of his reign* and 6gt£. 
of his age* This poem appears to have been compqfed foon, 
after his death. \ According to the modes of thinking pecu- 
liar to thofe tithes, the writer dwells more upon his devo- 
tion, than bisjkill in government, and pays lefs attention to 
the martial and political abilities of this great monarch* 
in which he hid no equal, than to fome little weakneffcs of 
fuperftition, which he had in common with all his coUmpo- 
raries. The king had in the decline of life vowed an ex- 
pedition to the hoy land, but finding his end approach, he dedi- 
cated thefum of 32,000/. to the maintenance of a large body 
of knights (14b Jay hijtorians, 80 fays our poet,) who were. 
to carry his hofrt with them into Palejiine. This dying com- 
mand of the king was never performed* Our pott with the 
honefi prejudices of an Englijhman, attributes this failure, 
to the advice of the king of France, whofe daughter Ifabel 
our young monarch immediately married. But the truth is, 
£dnvard and his deftruclive favourite Piers Gavefton fpent. 

the money upon their pleafures. To do the greater honour 

to the memory of his heroe, our poet puts his eloge in the. 
mouth of the Pope ; with the fame poetic licence, as a more 
modern bard wculd have introduced Britannia, or the Ge- 
nius of Europe pouring forth his praifes. 

This antique Elegy is extracted from the fame MS. vo- 
lume, as the preceding article ; is found with the fame pe- 
culiarities 


ANCIENT POEMS. .7 

euliarities of writing and orthography ; and tho 9 Written 
at mar the di fiance of half a century contains little or no 
variation of idiom : whereas the next following poem by 
Chauter, which was probably written Hit more than 50 
or 60 years after this* exhibits almofi a new language. 
This feems t* countenance the opinion of fome antiquaries* 
that this great poet made confiderable innovations in his 
Wether tongue* and introduced many terms* and new jnoits 
of/peeehfrom other languages 


A 


LLE, that beoth of huerte trewe, 
A JtOunde herkneth to my fong 
Of duel, that Deth hath diht us newc, 

That maketh me fyke, ant forewie among ; 
Of a knyht, that wes fo ftrong, ^ 5 

Of wham God hath don ys willc ; 
Me-thuncheth that deth hath don us wrong, 
That h* fo fone fhaU liggc ftillc. 

Al Englond ahte for te knowe 

Of wham that fong is, that y fynge ; IO 

Of Edward kyng, that lith fo lowe,« 

Zent al this world is norae con fpmnge : 
Treweft mod of alfe fhinge, 

Ant In werre war ant wys, 
For him we ahte oure honden wrynge, tf 

Of Criftendomr he ber the prys. 

Byfore that oure kyng wes ded, 
: He fpek afe mon that wes in care, 
" Clcrkes, knyhtes, barons, he fayde, 
. *< Y charge ou by oure fware, *«* 

P f «*Tbat 


^ 1 


t ANCIENT POE M % & 

u That yc to Engelonde be trewe. 

** Y dezc, y ne may ly ven na more ; 
f* Helpeth mi fone, ant crouneth him newe, 

4t For he is neft to buen y-core. 

" Ich biqueth myn herte aryht, Z$ 

" That hit be write at mldevys, 
" Over the fee that Hue * be dihti 

" With fourfcore knyhtes al of pry*,. 
u In werre that buen war ant wys, . 

" Azein the hethene for te fy hte, 30 

€t To wynne the croiz that lowe lys, 

fl Myfelf ycholde zef that y myhte." 

Kyng of Fraunce, thou hevedeft * ijnne,' 

That thou the counfail woldeft fonde, 
To latte the wille of ' Edward kyng' 35 

To wende to the holy londe ; 
That oure kyng hede take on honde 

All Engelond to zeme art wyfTe, 
To wenden in to the t holy londe 

To wynnen us heveriche bliiTe t \ 

: The meflager to the pope com, 

And feyde that oure kynge wes ded ; 
Ys oune hond the lettre he nom, 
Ywis his herte wes ful gret ; 

The 

* This is probably the name of fame pcrfin, wobo was to prcfide over tbU 
kttfinefu Ver, 33. fun/ie. MS. Ver. 35. kyng Edward. MS* 

For* 43. ys is probably a contraft'w of in hys or yn his. 


ANCIENT POEMS. '9 

The Pope him felf the lettre redde, 45 

Ant fpec a word of gret honour. 

* ( Alas ! he feid, is Edward ded ? 

«' Of Criftendome he ber the flour." 
1 

The Pope to is chaumbre wende, 

For dol ne mihte he fpeke na more ; 50 

Ant after cardinals he feode, 

That nmche couthcn of Criftes lore, 
Bothe the lafle, ant eke the more, 

Bed hem bothe rede ant fynge : 
Gret deol me myhte fe thore, jj 

Mony mon is honde wrynge. 

The Pope of Peyters ftod at is ntaffe 

With ful gret folempnete, 
TJier me con the foule blefle : 

" Kyng Edward honoured thou be i 60 

" God love thi fone come after the, 

" Bringe to ende that thou haft bygonne, 
'* The h©ly croisy-mad of tre, 

" So fain thou woldeft hit hav y-wonne« 

*' Jerufalem, thou haft i-lore ■ 65 

" The flour of al chivalrie 
", Now kyng Edward liveth na more : 

*' Alas ! that he zet fhulde dcye ! 


" He 


Fer. 55. Mc, r. e. Men, fo in Rdtrt of Ghucefter pajfm* 


.jo ANCIENT POEMS. 

** He wolde ha rcrcd up ful heyze 

" Oare banners, that bueth broht to grounde ; 
'* Wei ! longe we mowe clepe and crie 70 

•* Er we a fuch kyng han y-fbande." 


Nou is Edward of Carnarvan 

King of Engelond al aplyht, 
God lete him ner be worfe man 

Then is fader, ne lafle of myht, 75 

To holden is pore men to ryht, 

And underftonde good counfail, 
; Al Engelong for to wyffe ant dyht ; 

Of gode knyhtes darh him nout fail, 

Thah mi tonge were mad of ftcl, $9 

Ant min herte yzote of bras, 
The godnefs myht y never telle, 

That with kyng Edward was : 
Kyng, as thou art cleped conquerour, 

In uch bataille thou hadeft prys ; Z$ 

God bringe thi ferule to the honour, 

That ever wes, ant ever ys *. 

• Here follow in the original three lines more, ttibieh, 
fj apparently jpurious, *we chufe t$ (Jtrow to the bottom of 
the Page , <viz. . 

That lafteth ay withouten ende, 
Bidde we God, ant oure Ledy to thilke bliffe 
- Jefus us fende. Amen, 

III. AN 


AUCIENT POEMS, « 

in. 

AN ORIGINAL BALLAD BY CHAUCER. 

This little Jennet, which hath efcaped all the editors of 
Chaucer } s works, is now printed for the firft time from urn 
Qndent MS in the Pepyfian library, that contains many 
ether poems of its 'venerable anther. The <verJlficatron is of 
that f pedes, which the French w/ZRondeau, 'very natu- 
rally englijbed by our honefi countrymen Round O. Tbo* 
Jo early adopted by them, our ancefiors had not the honour 
of inventing it : Chaucer picked it up, along with other 
better things, among the neighbouring nations, A fondnefs 
for laborious trifles hath always prevailed in the dark ages 
of literature. The Greek poet j have had their wings and 
axes : the great father, of Englijh poefy may therefore bt 
pardoned one poor jolt tary rondeau. —Dan Gtofrey Chan- 
cer diedQd. 2 j. 140D. aged 72. 

I. I. 

YOURE two eyn will ile roc (bdenly, 
I may the beaute of them cot fuitene, 
Sp wendeth it thorowout my hexte kene. 

2. 

And but your word9 will helen haftely 
My hertis wound, while that it is grene, 
Youre two eyn will fle me fodenly. 

1 

3- 
Upon my trouth I fey yow feithfully, 

That ye ben of my liffe and deth the qucne ; 
For with my deth the trouth thai be fene. 
Youre two eyq, &c. 

II. i. Sa 


It ANCIENT POEMS. 

II. i. 

So hath youre beauty fro. your herte chafed 
PLtee, that me n' availeth not to pleyn ; 
For daunger halt your mercy in his cheyne. 

2. 

, Giltlefs my deth thus have ye purchafed ; 
I fey yow foth, me nedeth not to fayn : 
So hath your beaute fro your herte chafed,. 

Alas, that nature hath in yow compafsed 

So grete beaute, that no man may atteyn 

To mercy, though he fterve for the peyn. 

So hath youre beaute, &c. 

HI. i. 
Sy n I fro love efcaped am fo fat, 
I nere thinke to ben in his prifon lene ; 
Sy* I am fre, I counte hym not a bene. 

2. 

He may anfwere, and fey this and that, 
I do no fors, I fpeak ryght as I mene ; 
Syn I iro love efcaped am fo fat* 

3- 
Love hath my name i ftrike out of his fclat, 

And he is ftrike out of my bokes clene : 

For ever mo # ther is non other mene. 

Syn I fro love efcaped, &c. 

• This. MS.- 

IV. THE 


ANCIENT POEMS. jj 


IV, 
THE TORNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM: 


" OR, THE WOOEING, WINNING, AND WEDDING 


<$ OF TlBBE, THE ReEV's DAUGHTER THERE* 


» 


// does honour to the good ftrtfe of this natidn, that whili 
all Europe was captivated with the bewitching charms of 
Chivalry and Romance* two of our writers in the rudefi time* 
could fee thro* the falfe glare that furrounded them, anddifco- 
iter whatever was abfurdin them both. Chaucer wrote his 
Rhyme of fir Thopas in ridicule of the latter, and in the follow* 
ing poem we have a humourous burlefque of the former. 
Without pretending to decide, whether the infiitution of cbi* 
valry was upon the whole ufeful or pernicious in the rude ages* 
a quefiion that has lately employed many fine pens *, it evi- • 
dently encouraged a vindiclive fpirit, and gave fuch force to 
the cuftom of duelling* that it will probably never be 'worn 
out. This, together with the fatal conferences which 
often attended the diverfion of the Turnament, was fufficient 
to render it obnoxious to the graver part of mankind. Ac- 
cordingly the Church early denounced its cenfures againfi it 9 
and the State tvas often prevailed on to attempt itsfupprejjion. 
Butfajhion and opinion arefuperior to authority ; and the 
proclamations againfi Tilting were as little regarded in thofi 
times, as the laws againfi Duelling are in thefe. This did 
not efcape the difcemment of our poet, who eafily perceived 
that inveterate opinions mufi be attacked by other weapons, 
than proclamations and cenfures ; he accordingly made ufe of 
the keen *«* ^Ridicule. With this view he has here in- 
troduced, with admirable humour, a parcel of clowns, imi- 
tating all the folemnities of the Tour nay % Here we have the 

regular 

• See [Mr. Hurd's] Letters on Chivalry, Svo. 1762. Memoires de U 
Cbc valeric par M, de la Curncdes Palais, 1759, atom ' wxno ' &c ' 


t 4 asciekt p o e iw s. 

regular challenge— the appointed day— the lady for the prize 
— the formal preparations— the difplay of armour— the feu- 
eheons and devices— the oaths taken on entering the lifts — the 
various accidents of the encounter— the vidor leading off the 
prize, — and, the magnificent feafiing, — with all the other 
folemn fopperies, that ufually attended the exetcife of the 
barriers. And how acutely thejharpnefs of the author's 1 hu- 
mour muft have been felt' in thofe days, we may learn, from 
what we< an perceive of its keemtefs now, when time has fo 
much blunted the edge of his ridicule* 

Th e Tu r n a m e nt of Tott e k ham wasjirft printed 
from an ancient MS. in 1631, 4/0, by the rev. Whilhem, 
Bedwell, re Sior of Tottenham, and one of the tranjlators of 
the Bible : he tells us it was written by Gilbert Pilkington % 
thought to have been fome time parfon of the fame parijh, 
and author of another piece intitled Paffio Domini Jefu 
Chrifti. Bed-well, 'who was eminently Jkilled in the oriental 
languages 7 appears to have been but little converfant with 
the ancient writers in bis own, and he fo little entered into 
•ihefpirit of the poem he was publijbing that he contends for 
its being a ferious narrative of a real event, and thinks it 
muft have been written before the time of Edward III, be- 
caufe ^Tumamems were prohibited in that reign. " I do 
" verily beieeve, fays he, that this Turnament was acled 
*' before this proclamation of K* Edward. For bow durjl 
" any to attempt to do that, although in f port, which was 
1 fo Jlraightly forbidden, both by the civill and ecclejiajlicall 
power ? For although they fought not with lances, yet, as 
€ * our out hour J ay thy iC It was no children s game." And 
"what would have become of him, thinke you, which 
" Jhould have jlayne another in this manner of jeafting ? 
* c Would he not, trow you, have been hanq'd for it 

w IN EARNEST? YEA, AND HAVE BENE BURIED LIKE 

" a doggb V It is however well known that Turna* 
ments were in ufe down to the reign of Elizabeth* 

In the former editions of this work, BedwelPs copy was. 
franferibed here, with fome few conjectural emendations ; buff 
as Bedwell feemed to have reduced the orthography at leaf, if 
not the phrafeolngy, to tbefanddrd of his own time, it was 

4. <toit& 




ANCIENT POEMS. X5 

• 

with great pleafure that the Editor wiat informed ef mm 
ancient MS. copy preferred in the Mu/eum [HarL MS$. 
5396.] which appeared to have been tranfcribed in the 
reign ofK. Hen. VI about 1456. This obliging information 
the Editor owed to the friend/hip of Tho» Tyrwhitt, 
efa% and he bos cbiefy followed that more authentic Tran- 
fcrzpt, improved however by feme readings from BedweWs 
Book. 

OF all thes kene conquerours t6 carpe it were kynde * 
Of f^ fcyztyng folk ferly we fynde ; 
The Turnaojeit of Totenham have we in mynde ; 
It were harme fych hardynes were holden byhynde, 
In ftpry as we rede 5 

OfHawkyn, of Heriy, 
Qf Tornkyn, of Terry, 
Qf then* that were dughty . 
And Halworth in dede. 

It befel in Totenham on a dere day, ' iq 

Ther was mad a*fhurtyng be the hy-way : 
Theder com al the men of the 1 contray* 
Of HyfTyloon, of Hy-gate, and of Hakenay, 
And all tl^fivexe fwynkers-. 

Ther hopped Hawkyn* 15 

Ther daunfed Dawkyn,, ' 

Ther trumped Tomkyn-, 

And all wer tnswe dry nkers, 

, 1 

Tyl the day was goh and evyn-fong paft, 
That thay fchuld reeky ruher foot^fid.ther.counticalh ot 

Perkyir 

Vet* 20, // is not very clear in the MS, whether itjhwtd he cones, or 
caste*. 


ifr ANCIENT POEMS* 

Perkyn the Potter into the prefs paft, 
And fayd Randol the refe, a doztcr thou haft, 
Tyb the dere : 

Therfor fame wyt wold I, 

Whych of all thys bachelery § § 

Were beft worthye 

To wed hur to hys fere. 

Upftyrt thos gadelyngys wyth ther lang ftaves, 
And fayd, Randof the refe, lo ! thys lad raves ; 
BoldeJy amang us thy dozter he craves ; 30 

We er rycher men then he, and mor gode haves 
Of cattell and corn ; 

Then fayd Perkyn to Tybbe I have hyzt 
That I fchal be alway redy in my ryzt, , 
If that it fchald be thys day fevenyzt, 35 
Or elles zet to morn. 

Then fayd Randolfe the refe, Ever be he waryd, 
That about thys carpyng lenger wold be taryd : 
I wold not my dozter, that fcho were mifcaryd, 
But at hur moil worfchip I wold fcho were maryd ; 40 
Therfor a Turnament fchal begynne 
Thys day fevenyzt,— 
Wyth a flayl for to fyzt : 
And^he', that is moft of myght 

Schal brouke hur wyth wynne. 4^ 

Whofo berys hym beft in the turnament, 

Hym fchal be granted the grc be the comon affent, 

3 .For 


AN Ci £$¥ POfiMJ, r? 

IPor to wynne my doater wyth « doghtynefle* of dent, 
Andcoppeld my brftda-henne * that 'was bwtet oo t of Ken t: 
And my dnnnyd kowe 59 

For no (pens wyl I fpare, 
For no cat tell wyl I care, 
He fchal have my gray mare> 
And my fpottyd fowe. 

*f her was many ' a' bold 1&) ther bodyes to bede : 55 
Than thay toke thayr leve, and homward thay zede ; 
And all the weke * after* thay graythed ther wede, 
Tyll it come to the day, that thay fuld do ther dede. 
They armed tham in matts ; 

Thay ferorr ther notiy»> 60 

For to kepe ther pollys, 
God* blake bofly*, 

For batryng of bats, 

Thay fowed thate in fchepefkynnes, for thay fchuld not 

breft : 
Ilk-on toke a blak hat, in (led of a creft : 65 

* A bafket or a panyer before on ther hrefl,' 
And a ffayle in ther hande ; for to fyght prefl, 
Fnrth gon tba£ fare ; • 

Ther was kyd mekyl fors, 
Who fchald beft fend hys cors : - 70, 

He that had no gode hors> . - 
He gat hym a mare* 
Vol. It G Sych 

*>Vr. 4ft. Dotty. J&S; V* 49. WtfitU *fe tbi fhrafi u a ctppU- ' 
•roivntd ben" V. 57/ aftdrward MS. it. gaye*. PC. V. 60. fr 
+>*ming in, MS, *nd fupplkd frm PC* V* 70. H« borrowed him. PC. 


i» ANCIENT POEMS. 

t 

Sych another gadryng have I not fede oft, 
When all the gret company com ry4a*}d to the croft : 
Tyb on a gray mare was let up on loft 75 

On a fek ful of fedyrs, for fcho fchuld fyt foft, 
And led ' till the gap'* 

For cryeng of the men 

Forther wold not Tyb then, 

Tyl fcho had hur brode hen 80 

Serin hur Lap. 

1 

A gay gyrdyl Tyb had on, borowed for the nonys, 
And a garland on hur bed ful of rounde bonys, 
And a bronche on hur breft ful of * fapphyre' ftonys, 
Wyth the holy-rode tokenyng, was wrotyn for the 
nonys; 85 

For no ' fpendings' thay had (pared. 
When joly Gyb faw hur thare. 
He gyrd fo hys gray mare, 
' That fcho lete a fowkiu' fare 

At the rereward. 90 

I wow to God, quoth Herry, I fchal not lefe behynde, 
May I mete wyth Bernard on Bayard the blynde, 
Ich man kepe hym out of my wynde, 
For whatfoever that he be, before me I fynde, 

I wot 

Ver, 76. The MS* bad once fedys, i. e. feeds, nvbicb appears to have 
been altered f* fedyrs, or feathers. BtdweU'*- copy has Senvy, i. e. 
MuftarA-feed. V. 77. And led hur to cap. MS. V. 83. BedivdTs 
PC, has 'Ruel Bones'. V, 84. fafer ftones. MS. V. 85. wrotjn, 
i. e. wrought* PC. reads, written. V. 86. No catel they had 
ipared, MS* V. 89. Then . • • faacon. MS* 




ANCIENT POEMS. 19 

I wot I fchall hym greve. 9i 

Wcle fayd, qudth Hawkyfl. 
And I wow, quoth Dawky.fi> . 
May I mete wyth Tomkyn, 
Hys flaylc I fchal bym reve. 

1 make a vow, quoth Hud, Tyb, fon fchal thou fe, 100 
Whych of all thys bachelery ' granted' is the gre : 
I fchal fcdmfet thaym all, for the love of the ; 
In what place fo I come thay fchal have dout of me, 
Myn armes ar fo clere : 

I here a reddyl, and a rake, 105 

Poudred wyth a bfenaad drake. 
And three can tells of a cake 
In ycha cornere. 

I vow to God, quoth Hawkyn, yf ' P have the Gowt, 
Al that I fyhde in the felde 'thruftand' here aboute, 1 10 
Have I twyes or thryes redyn thurgh the route, 
In ycha flede ther thay me fe, of me thay fchal havedoute, 
When I begyn to play. 

I make avowe that I ne fchall, 
But yf Tybbe wyl me <:all, 1 1 j 

Or I be thryes don fall, 
Ryzt onys com away. < 

Then fayd Terry, and fwore be hys crede ; 
Saw thou never yong boy forther hys body bede, 

C a For 

Vtr. xoi. grant. MS* K I09. yf he have, MS* 

F» no. tbt MS, literally bat th r . (and, btru 


ib ANCIENT PO£MU 

ffer when thay fyzt fafteft and moft at* in drede, 1 20 
I fchall take Tyb by the band, and hwr away lede: 
I am armed at the full 5 

In myn afrmys I belt welfe 
A ddfc tr6gh> and a pele* 
A fadyll wythout a panell, iat 

Wyth a lies of woti. , 

I make a vow, *j«6th DddtfKw, and ftfttr lie tb* fl*a r 
Whyls me ys left my **ertb, tho* gets htrr wot fo& $ 
For fcho ys wele fchapen, and Ifczt as the rae, ' 
Thfer is no Capul in thys tnyle befbr hur tehal ga ; 1 3© 
Sche wul tie noat begyle : 

Sche wyl me feerfe, ! dar fay, 
On a lang fomerysday, 
Fro Hyffylton toHakenay, 

Nozt other balfmvfc. v 135 

I make a vow, quoth Perkyft, thow ipeks *f told roft, • 
I fchal wyrch * -wyferytr' vkhotrteti any boft : 
Five of the beft capulys^ that 3x in thys oft, 
I wot I fchal thaym wynne, and bryng thaym tb my coft, 
And here I grant thaym Tybbe : 1 4* 

Wele boyes htreys he, 
That wyl fytst, and not fle, 
For I am in my jolyte, 
Wyth fe forth, Gybb*. 

When 

JV. J37, fwyfclicr, MS* 


A N CI ENT POEMS. tx 

When thayhad ther vo wet made, forth can &ay hif, 145 
Wyth flayles, and homes, and ti urapca mad of tre : 
Thcr were ail the bachclerys of that centre ». 
Thay were dyzt in aray, as thaymfelfa w?ld be : 
Thayr haners wer M bry*t 

Of an old rotten fell ; 150 

The cheveron of a plow -ra ell * 
And the fchadow of a ball, 

' Quartred' wyth the mone lyzt. 

I wot yt * was* no cbylder game, whan thay togedyr met, 
When icha freke in the fcld on hya feloy bet, 155 

.And layd on ftyfly, for nothyng wold thay let, 
And foght ferty faft, tyll ther horles fwct, 
And few wordys fpoken ; 

Th«r were flayks al to flatred, 
Ther were fcheldys al to flatred, 169 

Bollys and dyfche* al to fc hatred, 
And many hedys brokyn. 

There was clynkyng of cart-fadellys, & clatteryng of 

Cannes ; 
Of fele frekyi in the feld brokyn were their fannes ; 
Of fum were the hedys brokyn, of Aim the brayn-pannes, 
And y 11 were thay txrfene, or thay wc»t thanns, 166 

C 3 Wyth 


Ver. 146 flailes, and harnifle. PC. ^151. The Chiefe. P C 
ft 153. I'0v4r<4* MS*. V» 154. yt y§. MS* 


%% ANCIENT POEMS 

Wyth fwyppyng of fwepyls : 

Thay were fo wcry for-foght, 
Thay myzt not fyzt mare oloft. 
Bat creped about in the * croft,' 1 70 

As thay were croked cr^pyls. 

Perkyn was fo wcry, that he began to loute ; 
Help, Hud, I am ded in thys ylk rowte : 
An hors for forty pens, a gode and a ftoute ! 
That I may lyztly come of my noye oute, 175 

For no coft wyl I fpare. 

He ftyrt up as a fnayle, 

And hent a capul be the tayle, 

And « reft • Dawkin hys flayle, 

And wan there a mare, 180 

P«rkyn wan five, and Hud wan twa : 
Glad and blythe thay ware, that thay had don fa ; 
Thay wold have tham to Tyb, and prefent hur with tha; 
The Capulls were fo wery, that thay myzt not ga, 

But ftyl gon thay ftond. *8f 

Alas ! quoth Hudde, my jo'ye I lefe ; 
Mee had lever then a fton of chefe, 
That dere Tyb had al thefe, 
And wyft it were my fond. 

Perkyn turnyd hym about in that ych thrang, 190 

Among thos wery boyes he wreft and he wrang ; 

He 

Ver. 168. The boyes were MS. V. 170. creped then about hi tK« 
roft. MS. V. 179. razt, MS. V. 185. ftand. MS, 

V* J89. fand. MS, 


AN.CIENT POEMS. 13 

* 

He threw tham doun to the erth,andthraft tham amang, 
When he faw Tyriy a.way wyth Tyb fang, 
And after hym ran ; 

Off his horfe he hym drogh, 19$ 

And gaf hym of hys flayl inogh : 
We te he ! quoth Tyb, and lugh, 
Ye er a dughty man. 

c Thus* thay tagged, and rugged, tyl yt was nere nyzt : 
All the wyves of Tottenham came to fe that fyzt 200 
JPyth wyfpes, and kexis, and ryfchys there lyzt, 
To fetch horn ther hufbandes, that were tham trouth plyzU 
And fum brozt gret harwos, 

Ther hufbandes horn to fetch, 
Sum on dores, and fum on hech, 205 

Sum.on hyrdyllys, and fom on crech, 
And fum on whele-barows. 

Thay gaderyd Perkyn about, c on* everych fyde, 
And grant hym ther « the gre,' the more was hys pryde : 
Tyb and he, wyth gret « mirth,' homward con thay ryde, 
^nd were ai nyzt togedyr, tyl the morn tyde ; 211 

And thay ' to church went :' 

So wele hys nedys he has fped, 
That dere Tyb he * hath' wed ; 
The prayse-folk, that hur led, 215 

Were of the Turnament. 

C4 Tq 

Ver. 199. Thys. MS. V. 204. hom for to fetch. MS. V. 2c 8. 
about everych fide. MS. V. 209. the gre, it wanting in MS. f. 210. 
*iothe. MS. V. 21a. And thay iferc affient. MS. V. 214. had 
wed. MS. V 9 215, The cheefemefl. PC. 


I4 ANCIENT POEMS. 

To that ylk fcft com many for the nones ; 

Some come hyphalte, and fbme trippand € thkner 9 on the 

ftoriys ; 
Spin a ftafin hys band, and Ann two at onys ; 
Of fam were the hedes broken, of fome the fchulder 

bonys : * 22a 

"With forrow com tfaay thedyr. 

Wo was Hawkyn, wo was Herry, 

Wo was Torokyn, wo was Terry, 

And ft> was all the bachelary, 

When tbay met togedyr. 225 

* At that feaft were they ferved in rich aray» 
Every fyv& & fyy<e had a cokeney ; 
And fo thay fat in jollity all the long day ; 
Tyb at night, I trowe, had a ample aray : 

Mickle mirth was them among ; 230 

In every corner of the hoiife 
Was melody delicious, 
For to here preciou* 
Qf fcmens fong f* 

V. FPU 


Ver. 218. trippand on. MS. 

* The laftftanxa is not in MS. tut gym from BedvoelVscofl. 

«f Six-men*s fong, 1. e. a Jong far foe voices. So Sbakejpeare ufis 
Three-man fong-men, in bis Winters Tale, A. 3. fc, 3. to denote 
men that could fng Catches compofad for three Pokes. Of this fort ur* 
JVetlkeii Madrigals mentioned belom>, Book II. Song 9. So again. 
Sbakefp. has Three-men Beetle 5 j, r, a\ Beetle or Rammer Wirktd ty 
three men, a Hen, 4* A* h 2** 3/ 


ANCJENT POEMS. « 5 


V. 

FOR THE VICTORY AT AGINCOURT, 

^That our plain and martial anceftcrs could wield their 
/words- much better than their pens, will appear from the fol- 
lowing homely Rhymes, which were drawn up by fume poet 
laureat ofthcfe days to celebrate the immortal *viSiory gained 
at Agincourt, Ocl. 25, 1 4 15- Tbisfong or hymn is gi-ven 
meerly as a cnriofity, and is printed from a MS. crpy in the 
Pepys collection, vol. I. folic. Jt is there accompanied with 
the mv fecal notes, which are copied in a f mall plate at the 
end of this 'volume. 

Deo gr atlas Anglia redde pro *vi8oria! 

OWRE kynge went forth to Normandy, 
With grac*e and myzt of chivalry ; 
The God for Jiym wrouzt marveloufly, 
Wherefore Engionde may calls, and cry 5 

Deo gratias : 
Deo gratias Anglia redde pro victoria* 

He fette a fege, the fothe for to fay, 

To Harflue toune with ryal aray ; 

That toune he wan, and made a fray, 10 

That fraunce (hall ry we tyl domes day. 

Deo gratias, &c. 
1 Then 


26 ANCIENT. POEMS;, 

/ Then went owre kynge, with alleliis ofte, 
Thorowe Frauncc for all the Erenflie bofte ; 
He fpared * for' drede of lefte, ne moft, 15 

Tyl he come to Agincourt cofte. 

Deo gratias, &c. 

Than for fothe that knyzt comely 

In Agincourt fold he fauzt manly, 

Thorow grace of God moft myzty 20 

He had bothe the felde, and the vi&ory. 

Deo gratias, &c . 

Ther dukys, and erlys, lorde and barone, 
Were take, and flayne, and that wel fone, 
And fome were ledde in to Lundone 25 

With joye, and merthe, and grete renone. 

Deo gr atlas, &c, 

i 

Npw gracious God he fave owre kynge, 
His peple, and all his wel wyllynge, 
Gef him gode lyfe, and gode endynge, y> 

That we with merth mowe favely fynge 

Deo gratias : 
Deo gratias Atiglia redde pro *vi£oria % 


VI. THE 


ANCIENT POEMS, a; 

VI. 
THE NOT-BROWNE MAYD. 

The fentimental beauties of this ancient ballad have always 
recommended it to Readers oftafte* notwithftanding the ruft 
of antiquity i which obfcures the fiyle and exptejjion. Indeed 
if it bad no other merit* than the having afforded the ground- 
work to Prior's Henry and Emma, this ought to prefervt 
it from oblivion. That <we are able to give it info correS 
a manner* is onving to the great care and exaftnefs of % tbo 
accurate Editor of the Prolusions &vo. 1760 ; who has 
formed the text from two copies found in two different edi - 
tions of Arnolde s Chronicle '* a book fuppofed to be fir ft printed 
About 1 52 1 . From the Copy in the Prolufions the following 
is printed* wi;b a few additional improvements gathered 
from another edition of Arnolde y s book * preferred in the 
public Library at Cambridge. Ml the various readings of 
this Copy will be found here* either received into the text % 
or noted in the margin. The references to the Prolufions 
will Jhevj where they occur. In our ancient folio MS. de- 
fcribed in the preface* is a very corrupt and defective copy of 
this ballad, which yet afforded a great improvement in one 

It has been a much eafier tajk to fettle the text of this poem* 
than to afcertain its date* The Ballad of the Nut B rownb 
Ma yd wasfirft revived in " The Mufes Mercury for June x 
1707." \to. being prefaced with a little " Effay on the 
•' eld Englijh Poets and Poetry :" in which this poem is 
concluded to be" near 30c years old," upon reafons, which, 
though they appear inconclusive to us new, were fufficient to 
determine Prior ; who there firft met with it. However, 
this, opinion had the approbation of the learned Wan l by, 
an excellent judge of ancient books. For that whatever re- 
lated to the reprinting of this old piece was referred to 

Wanky* 

* This (which my friend Mr, Farmer fuppofes to hi the firft Edi- 
tion) is in folio s the folios are numbered at the bottom of the leaf: the 
$ong begins at foVto 75. In this id Edit, the poem has been collated with 
a very fine copy that was in the colleBion of the late James Weft, E r f\ 
the readings eoctra&ed thence are denoted thus ' Mr, Jr% 


sg ANCIENT POEMS. 

* 

Wanley, appears from two Utters of Prior's preferved 
in the Britijh Mufeum [Hart. MSS. N* 3777.] The 
Bditor of the Prolufions thinks, it cannot be older than 
the year 1500, btcauft in Sir Thomas Mere's tale of 
The SerjEant, &c which was written about that timet 
there appears afamenefs ofrhythmus and orthography, and 
a very near affinity of words anaphrafes 9 with tbofe of this 
ballad* But this reafoning is not conclufive ; for if Sir 
Thomas More made this ballad his model, as is very likely , 
that will account for the famenefs of meafure, and i* fomt 
refpe&for that of words and phrafes, even tho 9 this had been 
•written long before : and as for the orthography, it is well 
known that the old Printers reduced that ofmofi booh to the 
jlandard of their own times. Indeed it is hardly probabk 
that an antiquarian like Arnolde would have inferted it 
among his hiflorical CollecJious, if it had been then a modern 
piece \ at haft he would have been apt to have named it; 
author. But tojbew bow little can be inferred from a re* 
fern b lance ofrhythmus orftyle, the editor of theft volumes has 
in his ancient folio MS, a poem on the Yitiory ofFlodd*** 
field, written in the fame numbers, with the fame allitera* 
fions, and in orthography, phrajeology, and ftyle nearly r** 
fembling the Vifions of Pierce Plowman, which are yet known, 
to have been compojed' above 160 y far s before that bottle. 
As this poem is a great curiojhy, wejballgive a feyu oftbf 
introdudsry lines, 

" Grant gracious God, grant me this time, 
41 That 1 may fay, or I ceafe, thy felven topleafe $ 
** And Mary his mother ; that maketb this world ; 
" And all the feemlie faint s, tbatfitten in heaven j 
• ' / will carpe of kings, that conquered full wide* 
" That dwelled in this land, that was alyes noble % 
" Henry the feventh, that foveraigne lord, &C, 
With regard to the date of the following ballad, we have 
taken a middle courfe, neither placed it fo high as Wanley and 
Prior, nor quite Jo low as the editor of the Prolufions : we 
fbould have followed the latter in dividing every other line - 
into two, but that the whole would then have taken up more 
room, than could be $llowed it in this volume, 

S E 


ANCIENT POEMS. ig 

BE it ryght, or wrong, thefe men among 
On women do complayne • ; 
Affyrmynge this, how that it is 

A labour fpeht in vayne, 
To love them wele ; for never a dele j 

They love a man agayne : 
for late a man do what he can, 

Theyr favour to attayne, 
Yet, y fa newe xlo them perfue, 

Theyr firft true lover than f * 

Laboureth for nought ; for from her thought 

He is a banyfhed man. 

I fay nat nay, but that all day 

It is bo the writ and fayd 
That woman s faith is, as who faytb# 1) 

All utterly dccayd ; 
But, Eeverthelefle, ryght good wytftciTe 

In this cafe might be layd, 
That they love true, and continue ; 

Recorde the. not-browne mayde : SO 

Which, when her love came, her to prove, 

To her to make his atone, 

Wolde nat depart ; for in her hare 

She loved but feym alone. 

' Tha» 

» 

* My friend Mr* F armcr propofa to read the firft lines thus as a L** 
ihnfm t 

Be it right or wrong, 'tis men among, 
On women to complayne. 
Ve** 2. Woman, Prthjans, ami Mr, Weft's copy* Vtr* ii. h«v 
I* «• their* 


jo ANCIENT POEMS. 

Than betwaine us late us dyfcufe 2$ 

What was all' the manere 
Betwayne them two : we wyll alfo 

Tell all the payne, and fere, 
That (he was in. 'Nowe I begyn, 

So that ye me anfwere ; 39 

Wherfore, all ye, that prefent be 

I pray you, gyve an ere. 
•' I am the knyght ; I come by nyght, 

As fecret as I can ; 
Sayinge, Alas ! thus ftandeth the cafe, 35 

I am a banyfhed man." 

She. 

And I your wyll for to fulfyll 

In this wyll nat refufe ; 
Truftying to fhewe, in wordes fewe, 

That men have an yll ufe 40 

(To theyr own ihame) women to blame, 

And caufeletie them ace ufe : 
Therfore to you I anfwere nowe, 

All women to excufe,-** 
Myne owne hart dere, with you what chere ? 45 

I pray you, tell anone ; 
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone* 


He. 


AN CIENT P O E M TB. 31 

Hb. 

It ftandeth fo.; a dede is do . 

Wherof grete harme fhall growe : 50 

My deftiny is for to dy 

A ftiamefull detb, I trowe ; 
Or elles to fie : the one mud be ; 

None other way I knowe, 
Bat to withdrawe as an outlawe, 55 

And take me to my bowe. 
Wherfore, adue, my owne hart true ! 

None other rede I can ; 
For I muft to- the grene wode go, 

Alone, a banyihed man. 60 

She. 

lord, what is this worldys blyfle, , 
That changeth as the mone ! 

My fomers day in lufty may 
Is derked before the none. 

1 here you fay, farewell ; Nay, *ay, 65 

We depart nat fo fone : 
Why fay ye fo r wheder wyll ye go ? 

Alas ! what have ye done ? 
All my welfare to forrowe and care 

Sholde chaunge, yf ye wf re gone ; 70 

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 


Vtr* 63/ The fomore. Pr«L 


Hi, 


p ANCIENT POEMJ. 

I can belevc, it fkall yoo greve, 

And fomewhat yon dyftrayne ; 
But, aftyrwarde, your paynes hard* - Jr 5 

Within a day or twayne 
Shall Tone ailake ; and ye (hall take 

Comfort to you agayne. 
Why Aiolde ye ought f for, to -make thought, 

Your labour were in vayne. 8* 

And thus I do ; and pray you to, 

As bartely, as I can $ 
for I muft to the grene wode go* • • 

Alone, a banyfhed man. 

She. 
Now, fyth that ye have mewed to me 8 $ 

The fecret of your mynde> 
I (hall be playne to you agayne, 

Lyke as ye (hall me rynde : 
Syth it is £o f that ye wyll go> 

I wolle not leve behynde 5 9+ 

Shall never be fayd, the not- brown* mayd - 

Was to her love unkynde : 
Make you redy", for (o am J, * 

Allthough it were an one ; 
For, in my mynde, of all mankind* - 95 

I love but you alone, 

tit 

r#r. 91. Shall it never, Prol. *nd Mr* W. Vcr* 94, Although^ 


A tf C IENT POEMS. 3 j 

He. 

Vet I you rede to take good hede 

What men wyll thynke, and fay : 
Ofyonge, and o!de it mall be tolde, 

That ye be gone awajr ; I0C 

Your wanton wyll for to fulfil!, 

In grene wode you to play ; 
And that ye myght from your delyght 

No lenger make delay : 
Rather than ye fholde thus for me 105 

Be called an yll woman, 
Yet wolde I to the grene wode go* 

Alone, a banyfhed man.- 

She. 
Though it be fbnge of old and yonge, 

That I fholde be to blame, • no 

Theyrs be the charge, that fpeke Co large 

In hurtynge of my name : 
For I wyll prove, that faythfulle lore 

It is devoyd of ihame ; 
In your dyftrefle, and hevynefle, I15 

To part with y©u, the fame ; 
And fure all tho, that do not Co, 

True lovers are they none : 
For, in my mynde, 'of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 12m 

Vol, II. D He. 

Vtr. U7, To ihcwcall. Prrf. and&b.W. 


34 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Hs. 
I counceyle you, remember howe 

It is no maydens lawe, 
Nothynge to dout, but to renne out 
• To wode with an outlawe : 
For ye muft there in your hand bere * -125 

A bowe, redy to drawe ; 
And, as a thefe, thus muft you lyve, 

Ever in drede and awe ; 
Wherby to you grete harme myght growe : 

Yet had I lever than, 130 

That I had to the grene wode go, 

Alone, a banyflied man. 

She. 
I thinke nat nay, but as ye fay, 

It is no maydens lore : 
But love may make me for your fake* 135 

As I have fayd before 
To come on fote, to hunt, and mote 

To gete us mete in ftore ; , 

For fo that I your company 

May have, I afke no more : 140 

From which to part, it maketh my hart 

As colde as ony Hone ; 
For, inmymynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 

He 

Vtr. 133, I fay nat, Pnl, and Mr % W* Vtr* 138. and ftorc. 


I 


ANCIENT ROEMi. 31 

Hh. 

For an outlawe this is the lawe, 145 

That men hym take and bynde ; 
Without pyte, hanged to be, 

And waver with the wynde. 
If I had nede, (as God forbede !) 

What refcous coade ye fynde i 1 50 

Forfoth, I trowe, ye and your bowt 

For fere wolde drawe behynde ; 
And no mervayle : for lytell avayle 

Were in your counceyle than : 
Wherfore I wyll to the grene wode gOi 15^ 

Alone, a banyfhed man. 

She* 
Ryght wele kndwe ye, that women be 

But feble for to f>ght ; 
No womanhede it is indede 

To be bolde as a knyght : 160 

Yet, in fuch fere yf that ye were 

With enemyes day or nyght, 
I wolde withftaftde, with bowe in bande, 

To greve them as I myght, 
And you to fave ; as women have 165 

From deth ' men* many one : 
For, in my myndc, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 

D2 He. 

P<r. 150. focours. Pro!, and Mr. JV* Ver* 16s. and night. 

Cam ft. Copy* Vir. 1 64. tg bdp« ye with my myght. Prol. and 

to*, fr. •> 


36 ANCIENT POEMS. 

He. 

Yet take good hede ; for ever I drede 

That ye coode nat fnftayne 170 

The thornie wares, the depe valeies, 

The ihowe, the Croft, the rayne, 
The colde, the hete : far dry, or wete. 

We muft lodge on the playne ; 
And, as above, none other rofe 175 

Bat a brake bufh, or twayne : 
Which Tone iholde greve yon, I before % 

And ye wolde gladly than 
That I had to the grene wode go, 

Alone, a banyihed man., I So 

She. 
Syth I have here bene partynere 

With yon of joy and blyffe* 
I mod alfo parte of your wo 

Endure, at refon is : . 
Yet am I fare of one plefare ; 1S5 

And, fliortely, it is this : 
That, where ye be, me femcth; parde, 

I coade nat fare amyfle. 
Without more fpeche, I you befeehe 

That we were fone agone ; 190 

For, in my^mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 

Hi. 


»V. 17*. froft and nytie. Mr. IV. Vtr* 174. Yc Jiuft. PnP 
Vtr. 190, (hortfry goa4« Pro/, and Mr* ffg % 


ANCIENT POEMS. 37 

He. 

If ye go thyder, ye muft confyder, 

Whan ye have lull to dyne, 
There ihall no mete he for yon gete, 19$ 

Nor drinke, bere, ale, ne wyne r 
N« fljetes clene, to lye betwene, 

Made of threde and twyne ; 
None other honfe, bot leves and bowes, 

To cover yoar bed and myne. aoo 

O myne harte fwete, this evyll dyete 

Sholde make you 7 pale and wan $ 
Wherfore I wy 11 to the grene wode go, 

Alone, a banyffyed man, 

She. 
Amonge the wylde dere, fuch an archie, 205 

As men fay that ye be, 
Ne may nat fayle of good vitayle. 

Where is fo grcte plente : 
And water clere of tfie ryvere 

Shall be fall fwete tome; zjo 

With which in hele I fhall ryght wele 

Endure, as ye (hall fee : 
And, or we go, a beddc or two 

I can provyde anone ; 
For, in niy mynde, of all nianfcyncje ?i 5 

I love but you alone, 

D 3 He. 

Ver. 196. Neyther here. ProL and Mr. W. Vet. 201. Lo xnyn. 
Mr. W. Vfr. 297. May^aat fayle. ?ruU #. May nat fayU« Mr* ff. 


38 ANCIENT POEMS, 

He. 
Lo yet, before, ye muft do more, 

Yf ye wyll go with me : 
As cut your here up by your ere, 

Your kyrtel by the kne ; 223 

With bowe in hande, for to withftande 

Your enemyes, yf nede be : 
And this fame nyght before day-lyght, 

To wode-warde wyll I fle. 
Yf that ye wyll all this fulfill, 225 

Do it (hottely as ye can ; 
Els wyll I to the grene wode go* 

Alone, a banyftied man. 

She. 
I fhall as nowe do more for yon 

Than longeth to womanhede ; 239 

To fhorte my here, a bowe to bere, 

To fhote in tyme of nede. 
O my fwete mother, before all other 

For you I have mofl drede : 
But nowe, adue ! I muft enfue, 235 

Where fortune doth me lede. 
All this make ye : Now let us fle ; 

The day cometh faft upon ; 
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone* 240 

He. 


Ver. 219. above your ere. Prof, Vtr. 220. a^ove the kne. 

Pro/, and Mr* IV* Vcr. 223. the fame» ProL And Mr* W % 




ANCIENT POEMS. 3* 

Nay, nay, nat fo ; ye fhall nat go, 

And I fhall tell ye why,—— 
Your appetyght is to be lyght 

Of love, I wele efpy : 
For, lyke as ye have fayed ito me, 245 

In lyke wyfe hardely 
Ye wolde anfwere whofoever it were, 

In way of company. 
It it fayd of olde, Sone hote, fone cold* ; 

And fo is a woman. 350 

Wh'erfore I to the wode wyll go, 

Alone, a banyfhed man. 

She. 
Yf ye take hede, it is no nede 

Such wordes to fay by me ; 
For oft ye prayed, and lbnge affayed, 255 

Or I you loved, parde : 
And though that I of aunceftry 

A barons daughter be, 
Yet have you proved howe I you loved 

A fquyer of 4owe degre ; 26* 

And ever fhall, whatfo befall ; 

To dy therfore * anone ; 
for, in my mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 

D 4 He, 

V tr . 251. For I muft to the gfene wode go. Pr$f. and Mf. W. 
Ver. 253. yet is. Camb. Cofy. Perhaps for yt k. Vtr* *6i, dy 

with him. Editor* MS. 

* i. e.for tb'n caufe', the J were f« die for having loved fw. 


40 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Hi.' 

A barons chylde to be begylde t 265 

It were a curfed dede ; 
To be felawe with an outlawe ! 

Almighty God forbede ! 
Yet beter were, the pore fquyere 

Alone to foreft yede, 270 

Than ye fholde fay another day, 

That, by my curfed dede, 
Ye were betray'd : WherFore, good mayd, 

The bell rede that I can, 
Is, that I to the'grene wode go, $75, 

Alone, a banyfhed man* 

She. 
Whatever befall, I never (hall 

Of this thyng you upbrayd : 
But yf ye go, and leve me fo, 

Than have ye me betrayd. 28$ 

Remember you wele, howe that ye dele ; 

For, yf ye, as ye fayd. 
Be fo unkynde, to leve behynde, 

Your love, the not-browne mayd, 
Truft me truly \ that I mail dy 285 

Sone after ye be gone ; 
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 

Hi. 

Yer. 27S. outbrayd. frtf. and Mr. W* -V*r. 282. yc be as. Pr»l. 
sfid Mr. W. Vtr. 283. Yc were unkynde to leve me behynde. 

JVa/. and Mr. W. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 41 

# 

He. 

Yf that ye went,' ye fholde repent ; 

For in the foreft nowe 290 

I have pumyed me of a mayd. 

Whom I love more than yon ; 
Another fayrere, than ever ye were, 

I dare it wele avowe ; 
And of you bothe eche fholde be wrothe 395 

With other, as I trowe : 
It were myne efe, to lyve in pefe ; 

So wy ll I, yf I can ; 
Wherfore I to the wode wyll go, 

Alone, a banyfhed man. ,300 

She. 
Though in the wode I undyrftode 
* Ye had a paramour, 

All this may nought remove my thought, 

But that I wyll be your : 
And (he ft all fynde me foft, and kynde, 30 J 

And courteys every hour ; 
Glad to fulfyll all that ihe wyll 

Commaunde me to my power : 
For had ye, lo, an hundred mo, 

' Of them I woldc be one i' 310 

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde 

I love but you alone. 


He. 


Ver. 3 jo. S» the Editor** MS. All tb* prtntid flpfci rmd, 
Yet wolde I be that one. 


4* ANCIENT POEMS, 

He. 
Myne own* dene lave, I fe the prove 

That ye be kynde, and true ; 
Of mayde, and wyfd, in all my lyfe, 315 

The beft that ever I knewe. 
' Be mery and glad, be no more fad, 

The cafe is chaunged newe ; 
For it were rathe, that, for yoar tfuthe, 

Ye fholde have cauie to rewe : 320 

Be nat difmayed ; what foe ver I fayd 

To you, whan I began ; 
I wyll nat to the grene wode go, 

1 am no banyfhed man. 

Tbefe tydings be more gladd to me, 325 

Than to be made a quene, 
Yf I. were fore they fholde endure ; 

But it is often fene, 
Whan men wyll brefee promyfe, tney fpeke 

The worded on- the fpleae. 330 

Ye fhape fome wyle me to begyle, 

And dele from me, I wene : 
Than, were the cafe worfe than it was, 

And I more wo-begone ; 
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde< 335 

I love but you alone. 

He. 

Ver. 31 5. of all, PrW. and Mr, Wj Zm 3»5- gladder. Prah 

and Mr. W. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 4$ 

He. 

Ye' mall nat nede farther to drcdc; 

I wyll nat dyfparage 
You, (God defend !) fyth ye defcend 4 

Of fo grete a lynage. 349 

Nowe undyrftande ; to Weftmarlande, 

Which is myne herytage, 
I wyll you brynge ; and with a rynge, 

By way of maryage 
J wyll you take, and lady make, 34.5 

As fhortely as I can : 
Thus have yon won an erlys fon, 

And not a banyfhed man." 

Author. 
" Here may ye fe, that women be 

In love, meke, kynde, and ftable : 350 

Late never man reprove them than, 

Or call them variable ; 
But, rather, pray God, that we may 

To them be comfortable ; v 
Which fometyme proveth fuch, as he loveth, 355 

Yf they be charytable. 
For fyth men wolde that women (holds 

>Be meke to them each one ; 
Moche more xight they to God obey. 

And ferve bat hym alone. 360 

VII. A 

Per. 340. grete lynyage. Prol. and Mr. W. Ver. 347. Then have. 
Pro/. Ver* 348. And no banyfhed. Prol. and Mr. IV. V. 351. 
This Tint wanting in Prol. and Mr. W. Vtr. 355. proved —loved. 
Prol. and Mr. W. lb, as loveth. Comb, V. 357. Forfoth. Prol and 


44 A N C I E,N T P O E MS. 


VII. 
A BALET BY THE EARL RIVERS. 

The amiable lights in which the character of Anthony 
WldvilU the gallant Earl Rivers has been placed by the ele- 
gant Author of the Catal. of Noble Writer s y inter efts us in 
whatever fell from his pen. It is prefumed therefore that the 
inferiion of this little Sonnet will be pardoned, tho 9 it jhould 
not be found to have much poetical merit. It is the only ore-' 
ginal Poem known of that nobleman's ; bis more voluminous 
works being only tranflations. And if we confider that it 
was 'written during his cruel, confinement in Pomfret caftle 
ajhort time before hi* execution in 148^3, it gives us' a fine 
piclure of the compofure and fieadinefs with which this flout 
earl beheld his approaching fate. 

The verfes are prefer vcd by Rouse a contemporary bifto- 
rian, wbofrems to have copied them from the EarVs own hand 
writing. In tempore, fays this writer ; incarceration is a- 
pud Pontemvfra&um edidit unum Bai<et in anglicis, ut 
mini monftratum eft, quod fubfequitur Tub his verbis : 
&um totjat mttfyns, &c. "Rofli Hift. 8vo. 2 Edit. p. 2 13." 
The zd. Stanza h, notwithstanding y imperfecl^ and we have 
infer led after ijks,< to denote the defecl. 

This little piece, which perhaps ought rather to have been 
printed in ft anzas of eight Jhori lines 9 is written in imita- 
tion of a poem of Chaucer* s> that will be found in Urry 9 s 
£dit. 1 7 2 1 . pag, 555. beginning thus, 

" Alone walkyng, in thought plainyngy 

" And fore fig hying. All de/blate. 
€€ My reniembrying Of my livyng 

" My death wijhyng Bothe erlf and late* 

** Infortunate Is fo my fate 

" That woteye what 9 Out ofmefure 

" My life I hate ; Thus defperate 

•' Infuch pore eft ate y Doe I endure, fcfc." 

SUM- 


ANCIENT POEMS. 45 


SUM WHAT mufyng, and more mornyng, 
In remembring the unftydfaflnes ; 
j This world being of fuch whelyng, 

j Me contrarieng, what may I gefle ? 

1 

I I fere dowtles, remediles, 5 

Is now to Mt my wofull chaunce, 

Lo ' is 9 this traance now in fubftaunce, 

***** fuch is my dawnce. 

Wyllyng to dye, me thynkys truly 
Bowndyn am I, and that gretly, to be content : !• 

Seyng playnly, that fortune doth wry 
All contrary from myn entcnt. 


My lyff was lent me to on intent, 
Hytt is ny fpent. Welcome fortune ! 

But I ne went thus to be fhent, 15 

But (ha hit ment, fuch is hur won. 


Krr. 7. in this. Roffi Hifi. 
Vtr* 15. went, i, e. weened* 


VJ3L CU- 


1 


• 


4$ ANCIENT POEMt. 

VIIL 
CUPIl>*s ASSAULT: BY LORD VAUX. 

7*be Reader will think that infant Poetry grew apace 
letween the times of River s andV aux, tho* nearly content* 
foraries ; if the following Song is the compojkion of that Sir 
Nicholas (afterwards Lord) V a u x , 'who was the jhin- 
i*g ornament of the court of Henry VJI. and died in the 
year 1523. 

And yet to this Lord it is attributed by Puttenham in his 
*' Art ofEng. Poefie, 1589. 4/0." a writer commonly well 
informed: take the paffage at large. "In this figure 
•* [Count erf ait A3ion\ the Lord Nicholas Vaux, a 
•* noble gentleman and much delighted in vulgar making, 
•* and a man otherwife of no great learning, but halting 
# * herein a marvelous facilitie, made a dittie reprefenting the 
" Battayk and AJfauk of Cupide, fo excellently weU, as for 
** the gallant and propre application of his ficlion in every 
*• part, I cannot choofe but Jet downe the greateft part of his 
•' ditty, for in truth it carinot be amended. Wh h n Cupid 
•'scaled, 13c" p. 206. For a fart her account if Ni- 
cholas Lord Vauxyfee Mr. Walpole's Noble Authors, Vol. 1 . 

The following Copy is printed from the fir ft Edit, of Sur~. 

rey's Poems, 1557* ^to. See another Song ofLordVaux's 

in the preceding Vol. Book II. No. IL 

WHEN Cupide fcaled firft the fort, 
Wherin my hart lay wounded fore; 
The batry was of fuch a fort, 
That I moil yelde or die therfore. 

There fawef I Love upon the wall, 5 

How he is banner did difplay : 
Alarme, alarme, he gan to call : 
? And bad his fouldiours kepe aray. 

4 The 


ANCIENT POEMS. +y 

The armes, the which that Cupide bare, 
Were pearced hartes with teares befprent, 10 

In filver and fable to declare 
The ftedfaft love> he alwayes ment* 

There might you fe his band all dreft 
In colours like to white and blacke, 

With powder and with pelletes preft 15 

To bring the fort to fpoile and facke* 

Good-wyll, the maiiter of the fhot, 
. Stode in the rampire brave and proude. 
For fpence of ponder he fpared not 
Aflault ! afianlt ! to crye aloude. 20 

There might you heare the cannons rore ; 

Eche pece difcharged a lovers loke ; 
Which had the power to rent, and tore 

In any place whereas they toke. 

And even with the trumpettes fowne £5 

The fcaling ladders were up fet, 
And Beautie walked up and downe, 

With bow in hand, and arrowes whet. 

Then firft Deiire began to fcale, 

And Ihrouded him under ' his' targe ; 30 

As one the worthieft of them all, 

And apteft for to geve the charge. 


Then 


Vtr, 30. fo Ed, 15$ 5. hw. Ed. 1557, 


4* ANCIENT POEMS: 

Then pufhed foddiers with their pikes, 
, And halberders with handy ftrokes ; 
The argabufhe in flelhcit lightes,' 55 

And duns the ay re with mifty fmokes. 

And, as it is jhe fouldiers ufe 

When fhot and powder gins to want, 

I hanged up my flagge of truce, 

And pleaded for my lives grant. 4® 

When Fanfy thus had made her breche, 

And Beauty entred with her band. 
With bagge and baggage, fely wretch, 

I yelded into Beauties hand. 

Then Beautie bad' to blow retrete, 45 

And every fouldier to retire, 
And Mercy wyll'd with fpede to fet 

Me captive bound as prifoner. 

Madame, quoth I , fith that this day 

Hath ferved you at all aflayes, 50 

I yeld to you without delay 

Here of the fortreffe all the kayes.' 

And fith that I have ben the marke, 
At whom you fhot at with your eye; 

Nedes. mull you with your handy warke 55 

Or falvc my fore, or let me die. 

SINCM 


# • 

* 




ANCIENT POEMS, 49 

%*QINCE the foregoing Song wasfirft printed off, rem- 
Jons have occurred, which incline me to believe that 
Lord V aux the poet, was not the Lord Nicholas Vavx, 
who died in 1523* but rather a fuccejfor of bis in the 
title. For in the Jirft place it is remarkable that all the 

old writers mention Lord Faux the poet t as extemporary or 
rather pofterior to Sir Thomas Wyat, and the E. of 
Sv rrky, neither of which made any figure till long after 
the death ofthefirfi Lord Nicholas Vaux. Thus Puttenbam 
in bis " Art of Englifi? Poefie, 1589." in p. 48. having 
named Skelton, adds, " In the latter end of the fame 
*' kings raigne [Henry VIII.]fprong up a new company of 
€c courtly Makers, [poets] of whom Sir Thomas Wyat 
*' th* elder, and Henry Earl of Surrey were the two 
" chief taines, who having travailed into Italic, and there 
tafied'the fweet and fiately meafures and file of the 
Italian poefie . . greatly polijhed our rude and homely 
manner of vulgar poefie . • • . In the samk time, or 
" wot long after was the Lord Nicholas Vaux, 
" a man of much facilitie in vulgar makings \"—Webbe 
in bis Difcourfe of Englijh Poetrie, 1586. ranges them in 
the following order, " The E. of Surrey, theXord Vaux, 
Norton, Bri/iow." And Gafcoigne in the place quoted in the 
\ft vol. of this work, [B. II, No. //.] mentions Lord Vavx 
after Surrey*— —Again, the file and meafure of Lord 
Vaux*j pieces feem too refined and polijhed for the age of 
Henry VII* and rather rejemble the fmoothnefs and harmony 
of Surrey and IVyat, than the rude metre of Skelton and 
Howes :—But what puts the matter out of all doubt, in the 
Britijh Mufeum is a copy of bis poem, I lothc that I did 
love, [vid. vol. I. ubifupra] with this title, " A dyttye or 
* l fonet made by the Lord Vaus, in the time of the noble 
" Queene Marye, reprefenting the image of Death" HarL 
MSS. No. 1703* §-25* 

// is evident then that Lord Va ux the poet was not he that 

flour ijhed in the reign of Henry vij. but either bis fon, or 

grandjbri: and y it according toDugdale's Baronage, the former 

was named Thomas, and the latter Wi L l i a m : but this 

Vol. II. E difficulty 

f U e, Ccmpofit'mttnEngHJb% 


€1 
*€ 


Sp ANCIENT POEMS* 

difficulty is not great t for none of the old writers mention ib? 
thrift ian name of the poetic Lord Faux +» except Put ten ham ; 
and it is more likely that he might he miftaken in that Lord?* 
name* than in the time in which be lived, who was Jo nearly 
kit contemporary,. 

Thomas fyord Vaux of Harrowden in Northampton-. 
fiire x was.fummoned to parliament in 1531* When he died, 
does not appear ; hut he probably lihitd tili the latter end of 
Queen Mary's reign* fince his f on, 

William was wt Summoned to pari, till the loft year of 
that reign , in 15 5 8» This Lord died in 159$* See Dug- 
dale 9 V. 2. /. 304. ■ *Upon the whole I am inclined to 
believe that Lord Thomas was the Poet. 

■f In the Paradife of Dainty Devifis > 1596, be is called Jtmply "Lord 
« Faux the elder." 


IX. 

SIR ALDINGAR. 

This old fabulous legend is gi<venfrom the Editor** fiUo 
JH$ 9 with a few tonjeclural emendations, and the infertion 
of $ or 4 ftanzas tofupply defe&s in the original copy. 

h has been fuggefied to the Editor, that the Author of this 
foemfeemsto have bad in his eyetheftory ofGunhilda, who 
isfometimes called Eleanor, and was married to the Emperor 
(hem called King) Henry. 

OUR king he kept a falfe ftewarde, 
Sir^Aldingar they hijn call ; 
A falfer fteward than he was one, 
Servde not in bower nor hall. 

lie wolde have layne by oar comelye cjaeene, 5 
H<?r deere vwrfluppe tg betrays ; 
• 4 Oar 


ANCIENT PO EM S. 5? 

Our queene ihe was a good woman, 
And evermore fayd him naye. 

> 

Sir Aldingar was wrothe hi kis rain 4, 

With her hee was never content, i# 

Till traiteroiK meanet he colde devyft, 

In a fyer to have her breat. 

vThere came a lazar to the kings gate, 

A lazar both blinde and lame ; 
He took the lazar opon his backe, 15 

And on the queenes bed him layne* 

" Lye ftill, lazar, wheras thou lyeft, 

" Looke thou go not hence away ; 
" lie make thee a whole man and a found 

" In two howers of die day V* 20 

* 

Then went him forth fir Aldingar, 

And hyed him to our king : 
" If I might have grace, as I have fpace, 

" Sad tydings I could bring," 


Saye on,, faye.cn, fir Aldingar, 25 

Saye on the foothe to mee. 
" Our queens hath chofen a flew new love, 

" And ihee wiil have none of thee. 

E 2 " If 

* Ueprobtbly tujutuates that the king fimld hid him by his pnvtr 
ftmbintfor tbt &n£i Evil* 


5a ANCIENT POEMS. 

i 

" If (hee had chofeh a right go6d knight, 
" The leffe had bccnc her lhamc ; jo 

" But fhe hath chofe her a lazar man, ' 
" A lazar both blinde andlame*" 

If this be true, fir Aldingar, 

The tydings thou telleft to me* 
Then I will make thee a riche riche knight, 35 

Riche both of golde and fee. 

But if it be falfe, fir Aldingar, 

As God nowe grant it bee I 
Thy body, I fweare by the holye rood, 
• Shall hang on the gallows tree. aq 

He brought our king to the queenes chamber, 

And opend to him the dorc. 
A lodlye love, king Henrye fayd, 

For our queene dame Elinore ! 

r 

i 

If thou wert a man, as thou art none* 45 

Here on my fword thoaft dye ; 
But a payre of new gallowes fhall now be built, 

And there (halt thou hang on hye. 

Forth then hyed our king, I wyfie, 

And an angry man was hee $ - ** 

And foone be found queene Elinore, 

That bride fo bright of blee. 

Now 


J 


ANCIENT POEMS. S3 

Now God you fave, our queene, madame, 

And ChriH. you fave and fee ; 
Heere you have chofen a newe newe love, 55 

And you will have none of mee. 

« 

If you had chofen a right good knight, 

The lefle had been your fhame : 
But you have chofe you a lazar many 

A lazar both blinde and lame. 60 

Therfore a fyer there fhall be built, 

And brent all (halt thou bee.— ^ 
" Now out alacke ! fayd our comlye queene, #* 

Sir Aldingar's falfe to mee. 

Now out alacke ! fayd our comlye queene, 65 

My heart with griefje will braft. 
I had thought fwevens had never beene true ; 

I have proved them true at laft. 

J dreamt a fweven on thurfday eve, 

In my bed wheras I laye, 70 

I dreamt a gryp e and a grimlie beaft ■ 

Had carried my crowne awaye 3 

* 

My gorget and my kirtle of golde, 

And all my faire head-geere : 
And he wolde worrye me with his tufl* 75 

And to his neft y-beare : 

£ 3 Saving 


34 ANCIENT P O E M &. 

Saving there came a title * grey' hawkc, 

A merlin him they call, 
Which u 11 till the grounde did ftrike the grypt* 

That dead he dpwnc did fall.— 80 

GifFe I were a man, as now I am none, 

A battell wolde I prove, 
To fight yvith that traitor 'Aldingar ; 
v Att him I caft my glove. 

But feeing Ime able aoe battell to make, 85 

My liege, grant me a knight 
To fight with that traitor Aldingar, 

To maintaine me in my right." 

" Now forty dayes I will-give thee 

To feeke thee a knight tbcrin : 90 

If thon find not a knight in forty dayes 

Thy bodye it mnft brenn," 

Then fliee font eaft, and fliee fent weft, 

By north and foqth bedeene : 
But never a champion colde me find, 95 

Wolde fight with that knight foe keenc. 

Now twenty dayes were fpent and gone, 

Noe helpe there might be had ; 
Many a teare flied our comelye queene 

And aye her hart was fad, too 

■■■••■• Then 


J 


r 


ANCIENT POEM*. }f 

Then came 6ne of the q«eefiet dunafUes, 

And knelt «pon her knee, 
" Cfce*re up, cheare tip, my grafckms dame, 

I traft yet helpe may be : 

And here I will make mine avewe* 105 

And with the fame me binde } 
That never will I return to thee, 

Till I fome heipe may fcnde." 

Then forth fhe rode on a faire palfraye 

Oer hill and dale about : 1 10 

But never a thampion colde fhe finde* 
Wolde fighte with that knight fo float. 

And nowe the dajfe drewe on a pace, 

When oar good queene muft dye j 
All woe-begone was that faire damseile, J 15 

When fhe fonnd no helpe was nye. 

All woe-begone was that faire damselle, 
And the fait teares fell from her eye 1 

^Vhen lo ! as fhe rode by a rivers fide. 

She met with a tinye boye. 1 20 

A tinye boye ihe mette, God wot, 

All clad in mantle of golde ; 
Jle feemed noe more in mans likeneffe, 

Then a childe of four yeere olde. 

/ . E 4 Why 


S 6 ANCIENT POEMS, 

Why grieve yoo, damfelle faire, he fayd, 1 25 

, And what doth caufc you moane ? 
The damfell fcant wolde deigne a looke, 
Bat faft fhe pricked on. 

Yet tarn againe, thoa faire damselle, 

And greete thy queene from mee : 1 30 

When bale is att hyeft* boote is nyeft, 
Now helpe enoaghe may bee. 

Bid he? remember what (he dreamt 

In her bedd, wheras thee laye ; 
How when the grype and the grimly beaft 135 

Wolde have carried her crowne awaye, 

Even then there came the litle gray hawke, 

And faved her from his clawes : 
Then bidd the queene be merry at hart, 

For heaven will fende her caufe. 140 

Back then rode that faire damselle, 

And her hart it lept for glee : 
And when me told her gracious dame 

A gladd woman was thee. 

Bat when the appointed day was come, {45 

No helpe appeared nye : 
Then woeful, woeful was her hart, 

* 

And the teares flood in her eye. 

And 


ANCIENT POEMS. 


57 


And nowe a fycr was built of wood ; 

And a flake was made of tree ; 150 

An* now queene Elinore forth was led, 

A forrowful fight to fee. 

Three times the heranlt he waved his hand, 

And three times fpake on hye : 
G iff any good knight will fende this dame, 155 

Come forth, or fhee moft dye. 

No knight flood forth, no knight there came, 

No helpe appeared nye : 
And n#w the fyerwas lighted op, 

Queen Elinore me mufl dye. 160 

And now the fyerwas lighted up, 

As hot as hot might bee ; 
When riding upon a little white Heed, 

The tinye boy they fee. 

" Away with that flake, away with thofe brand*, 165 

And loofe our comelye queene : 
I am come to fight with fir Aldingar, 

And prove him a traitor keene." 

Forthe then flood fir Aldingar, 

But when he faw the chylde, 170 

He laughed, and fcoffed, and turned his backe, 

And weened he had been beguylde. 

Now 


|8 ANCIENT POEMS* 

Now turne, now turne thee, Aldingar, 

And eyther fighte or flee ; 
I truft that I {hall avenge the wronge, 175 

Thoughe I am fo (ball to fee. 

The boye pulld forth a well good fwOrde 

So gilt it dazzled the ee ; * 

The firft ftroke ftricken at Aldiftgar 

Smote off his leggs by the knee, *8o 

Stand up, ftand up, thou falft traitore. 

And fight upon thy feete, 
for and thou thrived* as ttoou beginnaji, 

Of height wee ihftl be meete. 

A prieft, a prieft, fayes Aldingar, 185 

While I am a man alive. 
A pried, a prieft, fayes Aldingar, 

Me for to hduzle and thrive* 

I wolde have layne by our comlye queene, 

Bot (hce wolde never confent ; 190 

Th^n I thought to betraye her unto our jringe 
In a fyer to have her brent. 

There came a lazar to the kings gates, 

A lazar both blinde and lame : 
I Cooke the lazar upon my backe, 195. 

And on her bedd him layne. 

Then 


ANCIE NT, POE MS. & 

Theft ranne I to our comlyc king, 

Thefc tidings fore to tell. 
But ever alacke ! fayes Aldingar, < 

Falling never dbth well. 2CO 

Forgive, forgive me, queene, madam e, 

The fhort time I mull live. 
Nowe Chrift forgive thee, Aldingar, 

As. freely I forgive* 

Here take thy queene, our king Harry V, 20; 

And love her as thy life, 
For never had a king in Chriftentye, 

A truer and fairer wife. 

King Henry e ran to clafpe his queene, 
And loofed her full fone : 210 

Then turnd to look for the tinye boye ; 
■ > T he boye was vanifht and gone* 

But firft he had touchd the lazar man, 

And ftroakt him with his hand : 
The lazar under the gallowes tree 21 5 

All whole and founde did Hand. 

The lazar under the gallowes tree 

Was comelye, fh-aight and tall ; 
King Henrye made him his head ftewarde 

To wayte withinn his hall. * # * 22a 

X. T H E 


1 


io ANCIENT P6iEMS. 


THE GABERLUNZIE MAN. 

A Scottish Song. 

Tradition ajjures us that the author of this fang was Km 
James V. of Scotland* This prince fwhofe character for 
wit and libertinifm bears A great refemblance to that of his 
gay fuccejfbr Charles I I, J was noted for Jl rolling about his 
dominions in difguife t> and for his frequent gallantries with 
country girls. Two adventures of this kind he hath cele- 
brated with his own pen, viz. in this ballad c/ThrGa* 
berlukzie Man; and in another infilled JThs Jqlly 
Beggar, beginning thus, 

Thair was a jollie beggar, and a begging he was boun, 
And he tuik up his quarters into a land'art toun. 

Fa, la, la, Sec. 

It feems to be the latter of thefe ballads (which was 
too licentious to be admitted into this celled ion J that is meant 
in the Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors *, where the 
ingenious writer remarks, That there is fomething very 
ludicrous in the young woman 9 s diftrefs when Jhe thought her 
Jirft favour had been thrown away upon a beggar. 

Bp. Tanner has attributed to James V. the celebrated Bal- 
lad ^Christ's Kirk on thb Green, which is of 
cribed to K. James L in Bannatyne's MS, written in 
1568: And notwithftanding that . authority, the Editor of 
this Book is of opinion that Bp. fanner was right. 

K. James V. died Dec, iyh 9 1542, ag$4 33. 

+ /<"• °f a tinker^ beggar, &c. Thus be uUi to wfit a faith's 
iaugbur at Nida'ry near Edinburgh. *' VoT* 2. p. 2X>3. 

THE 


ANCIENT POEMS. «* 

THE pauky auld Carle came ovir the lee 
Wi' mony good-eens and days to mce, 
Saying, Goodwife, for zour courteiie, 

Will ze lodge a filly poor man ? 
The night was cauld, the carle was wat, 5 

And down azoqt the ingle he fat ; 
My dochters fhoulders he gan to clap, 
And cadgily ranted and fang. 

O wow ! quo he, were I as free, 

As firft when I faw this countrie, 10 

How blyth and merry wad I bee ! 

And I wad nevir think lang. 
He grew canty, and (he grew fain ; 
Bat little did her auld nrinny ken 
What thir flee twa togither were fay'n, . *g 

When wooing they were fa thrang. 

And O ( quo he, ann ze were as black, 
As evir the crown of your dadyes hat, 
Tis I wad lay thee by my back, 

And awa wi* me thou fould gang. so 

And O ! -quoth the, ann I were as white. 
As evir the fnaw lay on the dike, 
lid dead me braw, and lady-like. 

And awa with thee lid gang. 

Between the twa was made a plot; *; 

They raife a wee before the cock, 
And wyliely they ihot the lock, 

And 


fe ANCIENT POEMS. 

And faft to the bent are they gane. 
Up the morn the auld wife raife, 
And at her leifure put on her chuths, 30 

Syne to the fervants bed fhe gae* 
4 To fpeir for the filly poor man. 

- She gaed to the bed, whair the beggar ky, 
The ftrae was caold, he was away, 
She clapt her hands, cryd, dulefu' day !. 35 

For fome of pa* geir will be gane. 
Some ran to coffers, and fome to kifts, 
But nought was flown that could be mift, 
She dancid her lane, cryd, praifc be bleft* 

I have lodgd a leal poor man. 46 

. Since nai things awa, as we can learn, 
The kirns to kirn, and milk to earn, 
Gae butt the houfe, lafs, and waken my bairn, 

And bid her come quickly ben. 
The fervant gaed where the dochtex lay, 45 

The iheets was cauld, fhe was away, 
And faft to her goodwife can fay, 
Shea aff with fhe gaberlunzie«man. 

O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin, 

And hail ze, find thefe traitors agen ; 50 

For fhees be burnt, and hees be flein. 

\ The 

Vtr. 29, The Carline a Other ccfki. 


Ancient poems. 63 

The weary fou gaberluazie man. 
Some rade apo horfe, fome ran a fit* 
The wife was wood, and oat o' her wit ; 
She could na gang, nor yet could fhe fit, 55 

Bat ay did curfe and did ban. 

Mean time far hind oat owre the Ice, 
Foa fnag in a glen, where nane could fee, 
The twa, with kindlie fport and glee, 

Cut frae a new cheefe a whang. 60 

The priving was gade, k pleas'd them baith, 
To lo'e her for ay, he gae her his aith. 
Quo ihe, to leave thee,, I will be lakh, 1 

My wiafome gaberluazie man. 

O kcnd my minny I. were wi' zou* 6; 

lllfardly wad ihe crook her mou, 
Sic a poor man (held nevir trow, 

Aftir the gaberlunzie-moa. 
My dear, quo he, zee're set owre zoage ; 
And hae na learnt the beggars tonge, 76 

To follow me frae toun to toun. 

And carrie t£e gab^rlunzie on. 

Wi 1 kauk and keel, 111 win zour bread. 
And fpindles and whorles for them wha need, 
Whilk is a gen til trade indeed 75; 

The 


C* ANCIENT POEMS. 

The gaberlunzie to carric — o. 
Ill bow Hiyleg and crqpk my knee, 
And draw a black clout owre my ee, 
A cripla or blind they will cau me : ; 

While we fall fing and be merrie— o. 80 


XL 
ON THOMAS LORD CROMWELL. 

// is ever the fate of a difgraced mintfter to he forfaken 
by bis friends y and infulted by bis enemies > always reckon- 
ing among the latter tbe giddy ineonftant multitude. Wt 
have here a fpurn at fallen greatnefs from Jbme angry 
fort if an of declining popery , who could never forgive the 
downfall of their Diana, and lofs of their craft. The 
ballad feems to have been compofed between the time ofCrom* 
welVs commitment to the tower, June 1 1 . 1 540, and that 
ef his being beheaded July 2$. following. A Jhort inter- 
val ! but Henry's pajjton for Catharine Howard would, 
admit of no delay. Notwitbftanding our libeller, Cromwell 
bad many excellent qualities ; bis great fault was too much 
ebfequioujnefs to tbe arbitrary wii<L of his majler\ but let 
it be confidered that this mafier hadratfed him from obfcurity 9 
and that the high-born nobility had jhewn him the way in 

svery kind of mean and fer vile compliance The original 

copy printed at London in 1 540, is intitled, " Anewe ballade 
•' made of Thomas Crumwel, called Troll e on away." 
To it is prefixed this dijlich by way of burthen* 

Trolle on away, trolle on awaye. 

Synge heave and howe rombeiowe trolle on away. 

BOTH 


AN CIENT POEMS, 6$ 

TJ OTH man and chylde is glad to here tell 
JP Of that falfe traytoure Thomas Crumwd, 
Now that he is fet to leaxne to fpell. 

Synge trolle on away. 

When fortune lokyd the in thy face, 

Thou haddyft fayre tyme, but thoulackydyft grace ; 5 

Thy cofer* with golde thou fyllydft a pace. 

Synge, &c. 

Both plate and chalys came to thy fyft, 
Thou lockydft them vp where no man wyft, 
TyJl in the kynges treafoure fuche thtnges were myflv 

Synge, &c. 

Both cruft and crnmme came thorowe thy handes, 10 
Thy marchaundyfe fayled over the fandes, 
Therfore nowe thou art layde faft in bandei. 

Synge, &c. 

Fyrftftwhen kynge Henry, God fane his grace ! N 
Perceyud myfchefe kyndlyd in thy face, 
Then it was tyme to purchafe the a place. 15 

' • Synge, &c* 

Hys grace was euer of gentyll nature, 
Mouyd with petye, and made the hys feruyture ; 
Bat thou* as a wretche, fuche thinges dyd procure. 

Synge, &c. 
Vol. TL F Thou 


66 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Thou dyd not remembre, falfe heretyke, 

One God, one fayth, and one kynge catholyke, 20 

For thoa haft bene fo long a fcyfmatyke. 

' Synge, &c. 

Thou woldyft not learne to knowe thefe thre ; 
But euer was full of iniquite :- 
Wherfbre all this lande hathe ben troubled with the. 

Synge, &c. 

All they, that w,£re of the new trycke, 25 

Agaynft the churche thou baddeft them ftycke ; 
Wherfore nowe thou hafte touchyd the quycke. 

Synge, &c. 

'Bothe facramentes and faeramentalles 
Thou woldyft not fuffre within thy wallea 5 
Nor let vs prayefor all ci^ryften ftules, 3,0 

Synge, &c. 

Of what generacyon thou were no tonge can tejl, 
Whyther of Chayme, qr Syfchemell, 
Or elfe fent .vs frome &e deny 11 of hell. 

Synge, &c. 

Thou woldeft nener tp vertue applye, 

But couetyd euer to clymme to hye, 35 

&.H& nowe hafte thou trodden thy (hop awrye. 

Synge, &c. 
3 Who: 


ANCIE NT P E"tt«. &p 

Who-fo-euer dyd winne thou woldc not lofe ; 
Whcrfore al Englande doth hate the, as I fuppofe, 
Bycaufe thou wall falfe to the redolent rofe. 

Synge, &c. 

Thou myghteft have 'learned thy cloth' to flocke 40 
Upon thy grefy fullers ftocfce ; • '. 

Wherfore lay downe thy heade vpon thi» block*. 

. Synge, £c. 

• • ( » 

* 9 

Yet fane that foule, that God hath bought, • • » 

And for thy carcas care thou nought, 
Let it fufFre payne, as it hath wrought* . 45 

Synge, &c. 

God fane kyng Henry with all his power, 
And prynce Edwarde that goodly flowrc* 
With al hys lordes of great honoure. 

Synge trolle oh awaye, fyng trolle on away. 

Hevye and how rombelowe trolle on awaye. 

Ver. 40. CromwelTs father is generally Jam to have been a Slackfmtth 
at Putney : but the author of this Ballad ivoM Uifnuate that either be 
himfelf or feme of bis -anceftors were Fuller i by trade* 

# # * 7 be foregoing Piece gave rife Jo a poetic controversy, 
ivbicJb was carried on tbro' afucceffion of /even or eight 
Ballads written for andagainft Lord CfLOMWRLi. *Tkefe 
are all preferred in the archives of the Antiquarian Society, 
in a large folio Colle&ion of Proclamations, &c. made, in the 
Reigns ofK. Hen. Fill. K. Ed<w. VL £. Mary. ^ Eliz. 
K. James 1, &c* 

Vz XII. HAR- 


■f 


€1 .AtNJP.JIN-.T PPEMS. 


xn. 

HA^PAIUS, 
An ancient JJkclish PXctmal. 

This beautiful poem* which is perhaps thefirft attempt at 
faftoral writing in eur language, is preferred among the 
Songs and Son nbttbs of the earl of Surrey 9 l3c. 4/*. 
in that part of ttt <$l(<£ton t which confiftt- of pieces by 
VNCERTATN auctours. Tkcfe poems were firft published* 
1* 1557, ten years after that dccomplijbed nobleman fell a 
nfiaim to the tyranny of Henry VIH: but it is prefumedmoJL 
ef the* nver* csmpofed before the death of fir Thomas Wyatt 
in 1541* See Surrey's poems, \to.foL 19. 49. 

Tbo' written perhaps neat; h^lfa century before the Sh ep- 
HERd's calendar $,' this will be found far Juperior to 
any ofthofe Eclogues In natural unaffeBedfentimtnts, infsm? 
plicity offtyle, in eajfr fyw, of yerjjficatwtt apd all other 
heautus qf paftofal Jptry. Spenjer ought to ha<vf profited 
more byfo excellent a model. 

PH Y. L I D A was a fajre mayde, 
As frefh, as any flpwre ; 
Whom Harpalus the her dm an prayde 
To be h\s paramour. 

Harpalus, and eke Conn, 5 

• Were herdmen both yfere : 
And fhylida could twift and fpinne, 
And thereto flng full clere. 


But 


% Ftrfl fubltjbtd In 1579. 


A N C I JEM T -PC* EMS. 69 

But Ptij lid* w*S ill to Wfc, 

For HarpaUs to wiflifc : 10 

For Conn was lier ohefy joye, 

Who forft her not -a pinne. 

How often would fhe flower* twine I 

How often garlanxW make 
Of couflips and of columbine! r 15 

And al for Corin** fake. '. 

But Corin, he 1 had haafees tb tort, 

And forced more* t&eiiefd t 
Of lovers fewe he toke no cUr£ $ 
For once he was begilde. 20 

Harpalus prevailed noag*t, 

His labour all was loft ; 
For he was fardeft from her thought. 

And yet he loved her moft. 

Therefore waxt he both pale and leant, 25 

And drye as clot of clay : 
His flefhe it was cbhramed cleahe; 

His colour gone away. ' . . ' 

His beard it had not tang be ihave ; 

His heare hong all unkempt : 3° 

A man moft fit even for the grave, 

Whom fpitefull love had fhent. ' 

F 3 His 


yd AN.CU.NT POEMS. 

His eyes were red v and alt « fbrew^cht'; 
c , His face befprent with teares : 

It femde unhap bad him long * hatcht% 35 

In mids of his difpakes. 

His clothes were blacks, arid alft> bare ; 
As one forlorne was he 5 
t v Upon his head ataayes he ware 

A wreath of wyllow tree. 49 

His beaftes lie kept upon therbyil, ; 

And he fate in the dale ; 
And thus with fighes and forrowes (hril, 

He gan to tell his tale. 

Oh Harpalus ! thus would he fay.; 45 

Unhappieft under faune ! 
The caufe of thine unhappy day, 

By love was firft begunne. . 

; „ For thou wsnteft firft by fute to fcekc 

A tigre to make tame, 5« 

That fettes not by thy love a leeke; 
But makes thy griefe her game. 

As eafy it were for td convert 
c The froft into « a* flame ; 

As for to turne a frowarde hert, 55 

Whom thou fo faine wouldft frame. 
. . Corin 

Vcr, 33. ttf. Tbc Corrt&iont artfrm Ed. 1574. \ 


An cient poems. 7 t 

t _ __ 

Corin he liveth carelefie : 

He leapes among the leaves : 
He eates the frutes of thy redrefte : 

Thoa * reapft', he takes the (heaves. 60 

My beaftes, a whyle your foode refraine* 

And harke your herdinans founde : 
Whom, fpitefull love, alas ! hath flaine, 

Through-girt with many a wounde. 

happy be ye, btafles wilde, 65 
That here your paflure takes : 

1 fe that ye be not begilde 

Of thefe your faithfull makes. 

The hart he feedeth by the hinde : 

The bucke harde by the doe : ^ 70 

*jThe turtle dove is not unkinde 

To him that loves her fo. 

The ewe {he hath by her the rainme r 

The yong cowe hath the bulle : 
The calfe with many a lufty lambe 75 

Do fede their hunger full. 

But, wel-a-way ! that nature wrought 

Thee, Phylida, fo faire : 
For I may fay that I have bought 

Thy beauty all td deare. 8» 

F 4 What 


7 2 ANCIENT POEMS. 

What reafon is that crueltie 

With beautie lhould have part? 
Or els that fuch great tyranny 

Should dwell in womans hart ? 

I fee therefore to fhape my death 8j 

She cruelly is preft ; 
To th'ehde that I may want my breath : 

My dayes been at the beft. 

O Cupide, graunt this toy requeft, 

And do not ftoppe thine eares ; 90 

That (he may feele within her breft 

The paines of my difpaire* : 

Of Colin ' who 9 is carelefie, 

That fhe may crave her fee : 
As I have done in great diftrefle, 9; 

. That loved her faithfully. 

But fince that I fhal die her flave ; 

Her flave, and eke her thrall : 
Write you, my frendes, upon my grave 

This chaunce that is befall. J©o 

" Here Beth unhappy Harpalui 

" By cruell love now ftaine : 
" Whom PhyKda un/uftfy thus, 

49 Hath murdred with difdaine." 

XIII- ROBIN 


ANCIENT POEMS. 7 g 


Km. 

ROBIN AND MA.KYNL, 
An ancient Scottish Pastoral. 

■ 

The palm of paftoral poejy is here contejled by a cotemp*- 
rmry writer with the author of the foregoing. The critics 
will judge of their r effective merits ; hut muft make feme 
allowance for the preceding ballad, which- is given fimply, 
as it (lands in the old editions : whereas this, which follows, 
has been revifed and attended throughout ^AllanRaji- 
8ey, from whofe £vBr-GrkBK, Vol. I. it is here chiefly 
printed, The curious Reader may however compare it with 
ihe more original copy, printed among •* Ancient Scottijb 
** Poems 9 frdm the M§. of George Bannatyne, f 568. Edinb. 
u 1770. izmo." Mr. Robert Henryson {to 'whom 
we are indebted for this Poem) appears to fo much advan- 
tage among the writers tf eclogue 9 that weareforry we cam 
give little other account of him, bejides what is contained im 
the following eloge, written by W. Dunbar, a Scottijb poet, 
who lived about the middle of the \6th century : 

" In Dumferlingy he [Death] hath tone Broun, . 
" With gude Mr. Robert Henryfon." 

Indeed fome little farther infight into the hiftory of this 
Sf4tti/b bard is gained from the title prefixed to foMe of his 
poems preferved in the Britijh Mufeum ; vix* " The moral! 
** Fahillis of ' Efop compylit be Maifler Robert Henri- 
u soun, scOlmaister of Dumfermling, 1571*" Harleiam 
MSS. 3865. § i. 

InRamfafs Eve RGRhN, Vol. f. whence the above diftich 
is extraelcd, are preferved two other little Doric pieces by 
ttenryfon ; the one intitled The Lyon and the Mouse ; 
the other, The garment op gudeLadyis. Some other 
of his Poems may be feen in the "Ancient Scottijb Poems 
" printed from Bannatyne' s MS* above referred to." 

ROBIN 


74 ANGIENTFOEM5. 

ROBIN fat on the gude grene hill, 
Keipand a flock of fie, 
Quhen mirry Makyne faid him till, • 

" O Robin rew on me 
" I haif thee luivt baith load and ftill, 5 

" Thir towmonds twa or thre : 
" My dule in dern bot gif thou dill, 
" Doabtlefs but dreid 111 die. 

. Robin replied, Now by the rude, 

Naithing of luve I knaw, 10 

But keip my iheip undir yon wod : 

Lo quhair they raik on raw. 
Quhat can have mart thee in thy mude, 

Thou Makyne to me fchaw ; 
Or quhat is luve, or to be lude ? 1 $ 

Fain wald I leir that law. 

" The law of luve gin thou wald leir, 

" Tak thair an A, B, C ; 
" Be heynd, courtas, and fair of feir, 

" Wyfe, hardy, kind and frie, 20 

" Sae that nae danger do the deir, 

" Quhat dule in dern thou drie ; 
rt Prefs ay to pleis, and blyth appeir, 

" Be patient and privie." 


Robin, 

Per* 10. Bannaty ne's MS, reads as aleve, heynd, net, keynd, *sin 
tbt Ediflb, edit* 1770. Vsr. zi. So that no dinger. Barwatjnet MS, 


ANCI-ENT POEMS. 7s 

Robin, lie anfwert her againe, 25 

I wat not quhat is luve ; t . 

But I haif marvel in certaine 

Quhat makes thee thus wanruiev 
The wedder is fair, and I am fain } 

My fheep gais hail abuve ; .30 

And we fould piey us on the plain, > 

They wald 11s baith repruve. 

" Robin, tak tent unto my tale, 

" And wirk all as I reid ; 
" And thou fall haif my heart all hale, . 3 J 

" Eik and my maiden-heid : 
" Sen God, he fendis bute for bale, 

" And for marning remeid, 
*' Fdern with thee bot gif I dale, 

" Doubtlefs I am but deid." 40 

Makyne, to-morn be this ilk tyde, 

Gif ye will meit me heir, 
Maybe my flieip may gang befyde, 

Quhyle we have liggd full N neir; 
But maugre haif I, gif £ byde, 45 

Frae thay* begin to fteir, 
Quhat lyes on heart I will nocht hyd, 

Then Makyne mak gude cheir. 

11 Robin, thou reivs me of my reft; 

«* I luve bot thee alane." 50 

Makyne, adieu ! the fun goes weft, 

The day is neir-hand gane. 

«« Robin, 


j6 *NC it N T POEMS. 

" Robin, in daTe I am fo dreft, 

H That lave will be my banc." 
Makyn, gae lave quhair-eir ye lift, 55 

For lemah I luid nane. 

t. 

c * «• Robin, I ftand in fie a ftyle, 
V I fich«nd that full fair." 
Makyne, I have bene here this quyle ; 

At hame I wi(h I were. 6m 

44 Robin, my hinny, talk and linyfe, 
•* Gif thou will do riae mair." 
; Makyrfe, fbm other man beguyle, 
For hameward I will fare. 

Syne Robin on his ways he went, 65 

As light at leif eh tree ; 
c But Makyne murnt and made lament, 

Scbo trow'd him neir to fee. 
Robin he brayd attowre the bent : 

Then Makyne tried on hie, 70 

«• Now may thou fing, for I km fhent ! 

" Quhatf ailis luvc at me ?" 

Makyne went hame withonten fail, 

And weirylife could weip ; 
Then Robin in a fall fair dale . 75 

AiTemblit all his weip : 
Be that fome part of Makyne's ail, 

Out-throw his heart could creip, 
Hir faft he followt to aflail, 

And till her ttike gude keip. / 80 

Abyd, 


ANCIENT POEMS. 77 

Abyd, abyd, thou fair Makyne, 

A word for ony thing ; 
For all my luve, it fall be thyne, 

Withouten departing. 
All hale thy heart for till have myne. 

Is all my coveting ; 
My iheip to morn quhyle houris nyne, 

Will nee4 of nae keiping. 


u 


Robin, thou haft heard fung and fa^ f 

" In gefts and (lorys auld, 90 

" The man that will not when he may, 

" Sail have nocht when he wald. 
'* I pray to heaven baith nicht and day, 

" Be eiked their cares fae cauld, 
*' That pnefles firft with thee to play 95 

" Be forreft, firth, or fauJoV 


» 


Makyne, the nicht is foft and dry, 

The wether warm and fair, 
And the grene wod richt neir-hand by, 

To wafk attowre all where : 100 

There may nae j anglers us efpy, 

That is in luve contrair ; 
Therin, Makyne, baith you and I 

Un ken may mak repair. 

" Robin, 

V* 99. BannatynSt MS, bit woid, n§t wou4, at in Ed* 1770* 

v 


78 ANCIENT POEMS. 

" Robin, that warld is now away, 10$ 

" And quyt brocht till an end. 
" And nevir again thereto perfay, 

" Sail it be as thou wend ; 
" For of my pain thou made but play, 

" I words in vain did fpend ; no 

" As tnou haft done, fae fall I fay, 

" Mum on, I tilink to mend," 

Makyne, the hope of all my heil, 

My heart on thee is fet j 
I'll evermair to thee be leil, 1 15 

Quhyle I may live but Jett, 
Never to fail as uthers feill, 

Quhat grace fo eir I get. 
* " Robin, with thee I will not deill ; 

49 Adieu, for this we met." |20 

Makyne went hameward blyth enough, 

Outowre the holtis hair; 
Pure Robin murnd and Makyne leugh ; 

Scho fang, and he ficht fair : 
And fo left him bayth wo and wreuch, 125 

In dolor and in care, 
Keipand his herd under a heuch, 

Amang the rufhy gair. 

XIV. GENTLE 

K 117. Bannatynts MS, reads as atovt(dl\, mtfaill, as in Ed. 1770. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 79 


XIV. 

GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME. 

Dialogue between a Pilgrim and Herdsman. 

7hefcene fifth** beautiful old ballad is laid near Wolfing- 
ham in Norfolk, where was anciently an image of the 
Firgin Mary, famous over all Europe for the numerous pil- 
grimages made, to it, and the great riches it pojfejfed. Eraf 
mus has given a very exaft and humorous defcription of the 
Juperflitions praBifed there in his time. See his account of the 
Virgo parathalassia, in his colloquy, intitled, Pere- 
grinatio religionis ergo. He tells us, the rich offer- 
ingsinfilver,gold, and precious ft ones, that were there jkewn 
him, were incredible, there being fear ce a perfon of any note 
in England, but what fome time or other paid a vifit, or 
fent aprefent to our lady of Walsingham*. At the 
dijfolution of the monafteries in 15389 this fplendid image, 
with another from Ipjwicb, was carried to Cbelfea, and 
there burnt in the pre fence of ' commijfioners ; who, we truft, 
did not burn the jewels and the finery. 

This poem is printed from a copy in the Editor's folio MS* 
which had greatly fuffered by the hand of time ; but veftiges 
of fever al of the lines remaining, fome conjecTuralfupplements 
have been attempted, which, for greater exaBnefs, are in this 
one ballad difiinguijhed by Italicks. 

GEntlc herdfman, tell to me, 
Of curtefy I thee pray, 
Unto the towne of Walfingham 
Which is the right and ready way. 

" Unto 

* See at the End of this Pern, f . 83. 00 account of the annual offer* 
tags of she Earls of JNortbumkerland* 


rio ANCIENT POEMS. 

" Unto the towne of Walfingham 5 

" The way is hard for to be gone ; 

" And verry crooked are thofe pathes 
** For you to fin4 put all alone." 

• * 

Were the miles doubled thrife. 

And the way never foe ill, 10 

Itt were not enough for mine offence ; 

Itt Is (oe grievous and foe ill* 


«< 


Thy yeares are young, thy face is faire, 
Thy witts are weake, thy thoughts are greene ; 
*• Time hath not given tjiee leave, as yett, 15 
4 « For to committ fo great a Anne." 

Yes, herdfnaan, yes, foe woldft thou fay, 

If thou knewefl foe much as I ; 
My witts, and thoughts, and all the reft, 

Have weil deierved for to dye. ' 20 

I am not what I feeme to bee, 

My clothes, and fexe doe differ farr : 

I am a woman, woe is me ! 

Born to greeffe and irkfome care. 

For my beloved, and well-beloved, 25 

My wayward cruelty could kill: 
And though my teares will nought avail, 

Moft deartly 2 bewail him KlU 

6 Ui 


ANCIENT. POEMS. to 

He was the firmer ofn&At wights, 

None ever mortfincexc colde beej *o 

Of comely mien and Jhape he was, 

And tenderlye bee loved mee. 

When thus 1 faw he loved me well, 

Igrewe fo proud his paine to fee, 
That I 9 who did not know myfelfe, *r 

Tbzught fcornt of/ucb a youth as hee. 

• And grew foe coy and nice to pleafe, 

As womens lookes are often foe, 
He might not kifle, nor hand forfooth, 

Unlefs I willed him foe to doe. 40 

Thus being wearyed with delayes * ■ ■ 

To fee I pityed not his greeffe, 
He gott him to a fecrett place, 

And there hee dyed without releeffe. • 

And 

• Three of the following fiamtas have been finely parapbrafed by Dr, 
Goldsmith, in bis charming Ballad of Edwin and Emma ; the 
ttadir oftafie will have a pleafure in comparing them with the original, 

€ 4ncTftill I tryd each fickle art, 

Importunate and vain $ ^ 
And while bis pajfibn touched my heart, 

I triumph* din bis paint 

*77//^iorife dejeEkd with my f corn r ■ . 

He left me to my pride; , ^ 

And fought m folitude fe*{orn 9 

In fee ret f where he dy*d. 

Vol. IF, G *** 


* 1 


%t ANCIENT fOEMS. 

And for his fake theft weede* I wcare, 45 

And facrifke my tefcder age ; 
And every day Ifc begg my bread, 

To undergoe this pilgrimage. , 

Thus every day I ftft and praye, 

And ever wiH doe tiil I dye ; Jo 

And gett me to feme fecTett place, 

For fop did hee, and fo will I. 

Now, £enfle herdfman, afke no more, 
But kecpe my fecretts I thee pray 5 

Unto the tdwne of Waflingham 55 

Show me the right and readye way. 

** Now goc thy wayes, and God before ! 

«' For he muft ever guide thee (fill : 
" Turne downe that dale, the right hand padi, 

" Arid foe, faire pilgrim, fare thee welf !° 60 

But mine the forrow, mine the fault, 
. , , And well my life frail pay \ 
Ttlfiek tbefolitude be fought, 
And flretcb me where he lay* 

And there forlorn def pairing hid. 

Til lay me down and die : 
'fwasjofor me that Edwin did 

And fo for him will J. 

•»* Vojbenv what e&nfiant trihtte *mas pmJ to Ou% 

Lady of Walsingham, I Jhall give a few extraQs 

from the ancient MS. of the " EftaMiftment of the Houfe- 

• . 6 •« bold 


I 


1 

i 
I 

I 


ANCIENT POEMS. 83 

" hUofHwir V. SarJ of Northumberland." (Fid. 

VoL I. /. 367.^ 

$e#. XLIV. 

Its m, My Lorde u/itbtyerly tpfencfe afore Michaelmas for bis 
I*ordJbip*s Offtrynge to our Lady ofWalfyngeham. iiij J, 

Item, My horde ufitb and accuftomytb to fend yerely for the 
upholdyngt oftbe Light of Wax which his Lordjkip fynd- 
eth birnyngyerly befor our Lady of Waljyngbam, contein- 
ynge vj lb. of Wax in it, after vj d. ob. for the fyndynge 
of every lb. redy wrought by a covenant maid with the 
Cbanon by great , for the holey ere, for the findings ofthi 
faidLyght qyrnynge, vi /. viij /. 

Item, My Lord ufeth and accuftometh to fend yerely to the 
Cbanon that kepith the Light before our Lady ofWaljyn- 
gham 9 for his reward for the hole yere 9 for kepynge of 
the faid Light, lyghtynge of it at all fervice tymes doyly 
tborowt the yen, xij d* 

Item, My Lord ufeth and accufiomytb yerely tofende to the 
Preft that kepith the Light '; lyghtynge of it at allffervici 
tymes daily thorout they ere, iij s. iiij d. 


XV. 

Z. EDWARD IV. ANDTAISTNSR OF TAMWORTH 

Was aftory of great fame among our ancefiors. The mu- 
tboroftbe Art of English poisib, 1589, jto, Jeans 
to /peak of it, as a real fa%. — Defcribing that vicious mod* 
offpeecb, which the Grejks called Acy ron, i. e. " Whom 
*vi ufe a dark and obfcure wordy utterly rspugnant to 
that wi Jbould exprejs i? he adds, " Such manner of un- 
" couth Speech did the Tanner ofTamvuorth ufe to king Ed- 
" ward the fourth ; which Tanner f having a great wbili 
" miftaken Urn, and ujtd very broad talke with him* *t 
" length perceiving by bis train? that if was the H*g> *»** 

Gr " afraid? 


8* ANCIENT POEMfsS^ 

" afraide bejhouldbt punifhedfor it, [and]faid thus, with 
** a certaine rude repentance, 

"I hope I ihall be hanged to-morrow, . 

€t for [I feare me] I ihall be hanged ; whereat the king 
'* laughed a good *, not only to fee the Tanner's *?ainc~ 
" feare, hut alfo to he are his illjhapen terme ; and gave' 
" him for reeompence of his good fport, the inheritance of 
"> Plumpton-parke. I am afraid," concludes this fagaci- 
cus writer, " the poets of our time, that speaks 

"- MORE FINELY AND CORRECTEDLY, WILL COME 
" TOO SHORT OF SUCH A REWARD," p. 214.- The 

pbrafe, here referred to, is not found in this ballad at pre-* 
fent, hut occurs with fame 'variation in an older poem, in- 
titled John the Reeve, defcribedin the following volume, 
(fee the Preface to the King and the Miller), vix m 

" Nay, fay d John, hy Gods grace, 
** And Edward wer in this place, 

" Hee Jhold not touch this tonne : 
" He wold* he wroth with John I hope* 
*' Thereffore I bejhrew the foupe, 

*• That in his mouth Jhold come" Pt. t.Jl. 24. 

The following text is felecled from two copies in black ' 
letter. The one in the Bodleyan library, intitled, "A mer- 
** rie, pleafant, and delegable hifiorie betweene K. Edward 
'* the Fourth, and a Tanner of Tamwortb,/ &c* printed 
«" at London* by John Danfer, 1 596." This copy, ancient' 
as it now is, appears to have been modernised 4nd altered 
' at the time it was publijhed ; but many veftiges of the mora 
ancient readings were recovered from another copy, (though 
more recently printed, J in one Jheet folio, without date, in 
the Pepys collection* 

T N fummer time, when leaves grow greene, 

A And bloflbms bedecke the tree, 

King Edward wolde a hunting ryde, 

Some paftime for to fee. 
• Witk 

. * Fid. Glcfu 


ANCIENT POEMS. 8 5 

With hawke and hounde he made him bowne, c 

With home, and eke with bowe ; 
To Drayton Baflet he tooke his waye, * 

With all his lordes a rowe. 

And he had ridden ore dale and downe 
By eight of clocke in the day, jg 

When he was ware of a bold tanner, 
Come ryding along the waye. 

• 

A fayre ruffet coat the tanner had on 

Fail buttoned under his, chin, 
And under him a good cow-hide, ir 

And a mare of four (hilling t . 

Nowe' ftand you ftill, my good lordes all, 

JJnder the grene wood fpraye ; 
And I will wend to yonder fellowe, 

To weet what he will faye. 20 


• In the reign of Edward IV. Dame Cecil/, lady of Torhoke, i\btr 
toill toted March 7. jf.D. 1466 $ among many other btquefts hat this, 
" Alfi I will that my tonne Thomas of Torhoke have 131. 44. to buy him 
M an borje" Fid, Uarleian Catalog* a 176. 17.— *-Now if 131. 4^. 
nonld purcbafe ajteedfitfor a per/on of quality, a tanner* t borfe might 
mfwbly h valued at four or five JbiWwgu 


* 3 God 


d 


66 a rt c ik to t p 6 fe U s. 

\ Ooa fpecdc, G<tt fS?eedc th*e, laid ow Wng. 
Thou art **U**n*> fir, %<* *»• 
" The rarityeft Waye to ©raytato laflfet 
1 praye thee to toew* to fttee.*' 

" To Drayfcfc Baflfet woldft dfcto fe©*, 2 5 

Fro the place Srtiere flrou dbft flawld ? 

The next $ayre of ^Wldwcs thou cornel* onto, 
Turne in upoo t*y right feand." 

That is an unreadye waye, fayd our king, 

Thou doeft but jeft I fee : , 30 

Nowe fhewe me out the neareft waye, 
* And I pray thee wend with nice. 

Awaye with a vengeance ! quoth the tanner 1 

I Ibid ' &ee out ofttiy *wif t : 
All daye haveTrycften oh ferbcWbiy ttiare, 35 

And I afo fa&ingyctt. - 


«« Go with me downe to Drayton Baifet, 
. No daynties we will fpare ; 
AH'daye (halt thou eate and drihke of the beft, " 
jAnd^I will i>aye thy fare." 40 

Gramercye for nothing, the tanner replyde, 

Thou payed no fare of mine : 
I trowe I've more nobles in my purfe, 

Than thou haft penctf'fa thine. 

God 


ANCIENT POEMS, I7 

God give thee joy of them, Jayd *fet kiag, • 45 

And food thein well to priofe. 
l*he tanner woMe faine have beent away, 

For he weende-he had beene a thieve. 

What art thou, hee iayde, thou fine fellow*, ' 

Of thee I am in great feare, 50 

For the cioathes, thou weareft spaa thy tecke, 
. Might befeeme a lord to weare. 

I new Hole thejn, quoth onr king, 

I tell you, fay by the roode, 
" Then thou played as many aft imthri&dpth, 55 

And ftaiuteft in mtdds of thy good* jf J* 

What tydiagwbeftre yov, faydthe kyuge, - 

As you rydc fom arid new? 
" i heare notydinges, fir, by the flwAe* 

But that co«te-hi<ks are fteaig," ' 60 

" Cowe-hide* J cojseihidesi wtot^wgita/rthofe ? 

I marvell what Jtkey bee r w 
What art thou a /ode ? the faanAr Jrepfy^U 

I carry one 02 rider .mfle. 1 


Wh«corftfiMn;arititto,;f^d^h,«kijig> «» 65 
J praye thee tell ffle Acow£» 

Nowe telbaie:iribtt^:dfcon ? w t . cv*. 

G 4 I am 

f i. e. haft no other wealth, hut ivbat thou carrieft about thee, 
]| /'. #. a dtaltr in Bark* 


g* ANCIENT POITM<S. 

I am a poore courtier, fir, quoth, he, 

That am forth of fervice worne ; 70 

And faine I wolde tjiy prentife bee ? 
Thy cunninge for to learae, 

Marryc heaven forfend, the' tanner replyde, - 

That thou my prentife were : 
Thou woldft fpend more good than I (hold winne 75 

By fortye (hilling a yere. 

Yet one tjiinge wolde I, fayd our king, 

If thou wilt not feeme ftrange ; 
Thoughe my horfe be better than thy mare, 

Yet with thee I faine wold change. 8© 

«f Why if with me thou fatne^wik change, 

As change full well maye wee, 
By the faith of my bodye, thou proude fell&we, 

I will have fome boot of thee." 

That were againft reafon, fayd the king; 85 

I fweare, fo mote I thee : 
My hQrfe is better than thy mare, - 

And that thou well mayft fee, A 

*? Y«a, fir, but Brocke is gentle and mild, \ 

And foftly (he will fare r 90 

!fhy horfe is unrulyo and wild, I wifi ; . 

Aye (kipping here and thea*c»" 


ANCIENT POEMS; «g 

Wh^t boote wilt thou have ? oar king reply'd ; 

Now tell me in this Hound. 
" Noe pence, nor half pence, by my faye, • 95 

But a noble^ in gold £0 round. 1 * 

, ft Hem's twenty e groates of white moneyeV 
Sith thou will have it of mee." 
I would have fworne now, quoth the tanner; 
• Thou hadfc not had one pennie* iop 

! But finee we two have made a' change, 

A change we muft abide, 

^though thou haft gotten Brocke my mare, 

* # 

Thou getteft not my cowe-hide. 

I will not have it, fayd the kynge, 105 

i I fweare, ,fo mote I thee ; 

i . .. 

Thy foule cowe-hide I wolde not beare, 

If thou woldft give, it to mee. 

> 

The tanner hee tooke his good cowe-hide, 

1 _ 

That of the cow was hilt ; 110 

And threwe it upon the king's fadelle, 
That was foe fayrelye gilte. 

* 

M Now help me up, thou fine felldwe, 
'Tis time .that I were gone : ? 

: .When I come home to Gyllian, my wife, . 115 

I Sheel fay I am a gentilmon*" 

■ ' 3 


The 


a 1 


^t> AWClENf POEMS. 

The fciag hetooke kirn *p by the togge ; 

The tanner a f * * tat fail. 
IStiweanwrye, good fellows, &yd die kyng, 

Thy courtefye 4s bat fmail. 1 2< 

» 

Wlftfttfie tanner he was in the ttinges failefle, 
And his foote in the Jtimip was ; ' 

ffe-ofetrteiled greatlye in h« minde, 

Whether it were golde or brafs, * • 


Bat when his fieede (aw the cows taite waggr, 1 25 

And eke the bUcke cowc-borae ; 
<He tamped, and flared, and awaye Ik ratine, 

As the. deviil had him borne* « 

The tanner he pullH, the tanner ae&reat, . 

And held by the.pnsnmil faft : 150 

At length, the tanner came tumbling. downe ; 

His necke.be had wett*nye bxmft* 

Take thy horfiragarn warJiaaeengcaoce^heTayd^ 

With mee herfhall not bpde. 
•* Mythoriewalde:aaveb<m*eth«e we^flnoagbe, 135 
Bat he knewe not of thy ejowethide* . 

Yet i£*gaine thaiufkuie wr>ldft change, J 

As change full welLjnay wee* 
ly.the.faTth of my bodye, dwajdfy; tanner, 

1 will have fomc Iboote of thee." .... 1 40 

What 


ANCIINT P O VE M S. 9< 

What boote* wilt l thou hfeve, the tanner replyd, 

Nowe tell me in this ftoonde I . 
" ,Noe :pence nor halfpence, fir, «ty my ftye, 

But I will have tweotye potfn4»" 

* « Here's twecftye-groatses o»t of -my j>«rfe; 145 

And twenty* I -have of thine : 
And I have one more, which we triH fpoad 
Together at the wine." 

The ldn£vft t a bogle home to his monthe, 

And btew* rboth loude and ihriUe : 150 

And foonereswie lords, and fodae came knights, 
Faft ry&hg over die fciiie. 

Nowe, ofcvalasl the tanner he <tydc, 

That ever I fawe this daye ! 
Tfaba ttrt a fitting thiefc, yon cone dry fcllowes 1 $5 

Will beare my cowe-hide away. 

They are nt> thieves, the kiirg Tepfyde, 

I (Wefere, fee mote I thee : 
Bat they tore thelords of the north countrey, 

Here tonfe lo %ttnt with mee. 1 60 

And fbone T>^fore our-'king fhey came, 

Antl toeft downe on the grovnde : 
Then might the tanner have beene awaye, 

He had lever than twentye pounde. 

A cqller, 


i,2 AN C I E NT POEM S. 

I 

1 

* A coller,' a toller # , here : fayd the king, ' 165 

A coller he load did crye : 
Then woulde he lever then twentye pound, ' 
He had not beene fo nighe. 

A coller, a coller, the tanner he fayd, 
I trowe it will breed fbrrowe : 170 

After a coller comes a halter, 

And I (hall be hanged to-morrowe/ 

" Awaye witnthy feare, thou jolly tanner, 
c r For the fport thou haft fhewn to me, 
« I wote noe halter thou fhalt weare, 17 S 

But thou /halt have a knight's fee* 

For Plunipton-parke I will give thee, 
With tenements faire befide : 
I . »Tis worth three hundred markes by the yeare, 
/ To xnaintaine thy good cowe-hide," 189 

Gramercye, my liege, the tanner reply de, 

For the favour thou haft me fhoyvne ; 
If ever thou comeft to merry Tamwdrth, 
c ; Neates leather fhall clout thy (hoen. 


• • 


m j4 collar was, I believe, anciently ufed in the ceremony of conferring 
knighthood. Or perhaps the King ufed the French word AcoUtr,Jtgni- 
fying to give the jAcolade, or blow that was to dub him a knight* This 
. ike Tanner ignorantly mijfakesfor A collar. 


xvi. a 5 


ANCIENT POEMS, w 

XVL 

m 

A3 YE CAME FROM THE HOLY-LAND. 
Dialogue between a Pilgrim and Traveller* 

Tbefcene ofthisfing is the fame , as in Nuni. XIV. The 
pilgrimage to Walfingham fuggefted the plan of many popu- 
lar pieces. In the Pepys collection, Vol. I. p. 226* is a 
kind of Interlude in the old ballad Jlyle, of which thefirfl 
ftanza alone is worth reprinting. 

* As I went to Walfingham, 

To the (brine with fpeede, 
Met I with a jolly palmer 
In a pilgrimes weede. 
Now God you fave, you jolly palmer ! . 

" Welcome, lady gay, 
" Oft have I fued to thee For love." 
«• —Oft have I faid you nay. 

• 

The pilgrimages undertaken on pretence of religion, were 
often produ£ii*ve of affairs of gallantry, and led the votaries 
to no other Jhrine than that of Venus # . 

The following ballad was once very popular ; // // quoted 
in Fletcher's " Knt. of the burning pejile," A3 2. fc. ult. 
and in another old play, called, " Hans Seer-pot, his in- 
tfifible Comedy, WV." 4/0, 161 8 ; j£t I.— The copy below 
was communicated to the Editor by the late Mr. Shenftont 
as correded by him from an ancient MS, andfupplied 'with a 
concluding Jianza. 

• Even in the time of Langland, pilgrimages to Walfingham were net 
unfavourable to the rites of Venuu Thus in bis Vifions of Pierce* 
Plowman, fo. 1. 

$ermtt0 on a fjea»e f tottlj ftoftefc fiatoft 
l&gnun to Hfralfinoiam, «mo irer % wnffrt? after. 

J i, #. their. 


^ .AKCI.'EU T POEMS. 

We have placed this, and Gentle Herdsman, c^fr. 
thus early in the volume, upon & prefumption that -they mufl 
have been written, if not before the diffolution of the mo- 
naJUries, yet while \he remembrance if them was fiejb he 
the minds of the people, 

AS ye came from the holy land 
Of ' blefled 1 Walfingham, 
O met you not with my try'e love 
As by the way ye came ? 

** How.ftiould I know your tjru^e love, g 

•« That have met many a one, 
" As I came from the holy land, 

" That Jiave both come, and gone P' 

My love is neither white # , nor browne, 

But as the heavens faire ; ie> 

There is none hath her form divine, 
' Either in earth, or ayre. 

*' Such an one did I meet, good fir, 

" With an asgelicfee face ; 
" Who like a nymplie, a qoeene appea/d 15 

" Both in her gait, her grace.** 

Yes : me hath cleane forfaken me, 

And left me all alone ; 
Who fome time loved me as her life, 

And called me her owne. 20 

» fc. poU. 

" What 


AJfCIENT POEMS- f j 

** What is the caufe (he leaves thee thus, 

" And a new way doth take, 
*' That fome time loved thee as her life, 

4t And tfiee her joy did make ?" 

I that loved her all my youth, *5 

Growe old now a* you fee ; 
Love liketh not the falling fraite. 

Nor yet the withered tree* 

* 

Fbr rove is like a carefefie chiide, t 

Forgetting promife paft : jft 

He it blind, ox deaf, whenere he lift ; 
His faith is never faft. 

His * fond* defire is fickle found, 

A»d yiddes a truftleiTe jntye ; 
Wontie with a world of toil aad cart* jg 

And loft ev'n with a toye. 

Such is the love of womankinde, 
Or Loves faire name abufile, 

Beneathe which many vaine dcfires, 

And foJlyes are excufde. 4* 

* But true love is a tailing fire, 

* Which viewlefs veftals f tend, 

9 

' That barnes for ever in the foule, 

* And knowes nor change, nor end.' 

f fc. Angels* 

XVII. HAS.- 


96 ANCIENT POEMS. 


XVII. 

» 

HARDYKNUTE. 
A Scottish Fragment. 

As this fine morfel of heroic poetry hath generally paft for 
ancient, it is here thrown to the end of our earlieft pieces ; 
thatfuch as doubt of it* age, may the better compare it with 
other pieces of genuine antiquity. For after all, there is 
more than reafon tofufpeS, that moft of its beauties are of. 
modern date ; and that thefe at leaft (if not its whole exift* - 
ence) have flowed from the pen of a lady, within this pre* 
fent century. The following particulars may be depended on* 
One Mrs. IVardlaw, wbofe maiden name was Halket (aunt 
to the late Sir Peter Halket of Pit f err an in Scotland, who 
Wfis killed in America, along with general Bradock in 
1 75 5 J pretended Jhe had found this poem, written on Jhreds 
of paper, employed for what is called the bottoms of clues. 
Afufpicion arofe that it was her own compqfition. Some 
able judges afferted it to be modern. The lady did in a man" 
ner acknowledge it to be Jo. Being defer ed tojhew an ad- 
ditional ft an%a, as a proof of this, Jhe produced the three 
laft beginning with ** Loud and fchrill," &c. which were 
not in the copy that wasfirft printed. The late Lord Pre* 
Sdent Forbes, and Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto (late Lord 
juftice Clerk for Scotland) who had believed it ancient, 
contributed to the expence of publishing the firfl Edition, 
which came out in folio about the year ijzo.-^-This account 
is tranfmitted from Scotland by a gentleman of diftinguijhed 
rank, learning, and genius, who yet is of opinion, that part of 
the ballad may be ancient ; but retouched and natch enlarged 
by the lady abowementioned. Indeed he hath been informed, 
that the late William Thompfon, the Scottijh mufecian, whe 
pubUJhed the Orpheus Calbdonivs, 17339 2 vols. 


ancient poems; 97 

%<06. declared he had heard fragments of it repeated du- 
ring his infancy ; before ever Mrs. Wardlavts copy was 
heard of . r * 

STately ftept he call the wa, 
And ftately flept he weft. 
Full feventy zeirs he now had fene, 

With (kerfs fevin zeirs of reft. 
He livit quhen Britons breach of faith q 

Wroucht Scotland meikle wae : 
And ay his fword tauld to their coft, 
He was their deidly fae. 

Hie on a hill his cattle ftude, 

• With halls and touris a hicht, Iq 

And gaidly chambers fair to fe, 

Qghair he lodgit mony a knicht. 
His dame fae peirlefs anes and fair, 

For chaft and bewtie deimt, 
Nae marrow had in all the land, 

Saif £h?nor the quene. 


*5 


20 


Full thirtein fons to him fcho bare, 

All men of valour ilout ; 
In bluidy ficht with fword in hand 

Nyne left their lives bot doubt : 
Four zit remain, hang may they live 

To ftand by liege and land ; 
Hie was their fame, hie was their mkht, 

And hie was their command. 
Vol. II. H Great 


98, ANCIENT POEMS/. 

Gre^t luyc they bare to Fairly fair, - 25 

Their filler faft and deir, 
Her girdle fhawd her mid le gimp, ' 

And gowden glift her hair. 
Quhat waefoa wae her bewtie bred f 

Waefou to zung and auld, 30 

Waefou I trow to kyth and kyn, 

As ftory ever tauld. 

The king of Node in fummer tyde, 

Puft up with powir and micht, 
Landed in fair Scotland the yle, 35 

With m'ony a hardy knicht. 
The tydings to our gude Scots king 

Came, as he fat at dyne, 
With noble chiefs in braif aray, 

Drinking the blude-reid wine; 40 

V 

\ 

" To horfe, to horfe, my ryal liege, 

Zours faes ftand on the ftrand, 
Full twenty thoufand glittering fpears 

The king of Norfe commands." 
Bring me my ileed Mage dapple gray, 4; 

Our gude king raife and cried, 
A truftier beaft in all the land 

A Scots king nevir tried. 


Go 


r 


ANCIENT tKQEMS. 99 

Go Utile page* teUHardyknate, 

That lives on. hill fo hie, 5© 

To draw. hii" (word, the dreid of fees, 

And hafte and<fbl|ow me. 
The little page tewfwifi as dart 

Flung by his matters, asm, 
4< Cum down,. cum down,. lord. Uax%ksate 9 < 55 

And rid zour king frae harm*" 

Then reijl raid grew his dadc-btown cteiJfe, ' 

Sae did his darfcrboyyu htWV i 
His luiks grew kene* as tjity weoe won* 

In dangers great to do ; 60 

He hes tage a Ipm as green as £)a&> 

And gien five ibuftd* &* fcffiUf 
That treis in grene wood^cbuk* Anneal,. 
Sae loudra*g.i}fea>ilk 

His fons in manly fp^rt a&$ g#f# fij 

Had paft that funvqws mw&* 
Quhen low down in a grajfy<iWff>, 

They heard their faifcetis bei?n. 
That horn, qujod t^y, ntir footf* tnptafe, 

We haif other fport to j*y4e. 7* 

And fane they heyd t&em, up : tkeJJJi, 

And func were £t Igs fy^f . 

H * •• Late 


ioo ANCIENT PO E M S. 

* i 

" Late late the zeftrenel weind in peace 

To end my lengthned life, 
My age micht weil excufe my arm 75 

Frac manly feats of ftryfe ; 
But now that Norfe dois proudly boaffc 

Fair Scotland to inthrall, 
Its~neir be faid of Hardy knute, 

He feard to ficht or fall. 80 

u Robin of Rothfay, bend thy bow, 

Thy arrows fchute fae leil, 
That mony a comely countenance 

They haif turnd to deidly pale. 
Brade Thomas tak ze but zour lance, 85 * 

Ze neid nae 'weapons mair, 
Gif ze ficht wi' it as ze did anes 

Gainft Weftmorlands ferfs heir. 

" And Malcom, licht of fute as flag 

That runs in foreft wyld, 99 

Get me my thoufands thrie of men 

Well bred to fword and fchield : 
Bring me my horfe and harniiine 

My blade of mettal cleir. 
If faes kend but the hand it bare, 9; 

They fune had fled for ftir. 

" Farewell 


r 

i 

i 

i 


ANCIENT POEMS. toi 

" Fareweil my dame fae peirlefs gude, 
(And tuke her by the hand), 
. Fairer to me in age zou feira, 

Than maids for bewtie famd : loo 

My zoungeft fon (hall here remain 

To guard thefe (lately towirs, 
And fhut the iHver bolt that keips 
- Sae fail zoar painted bowirs." 

And firft (cho wet her comely cheiks, 105 

And then her boddice grene, 
Hir filken cords of twirtle twift, 

Weil plett with filver fchene ; 
And apron fett with mony a dice 

Of neidle-wark fae rare, * tio 

Wove by nae hand, as ze may guefs, 

Saif that of Fairly fair. 

And he has ridden owre muir and mofs, 

Owre hills and mony a glen, 
Quhen he came to a wounded knicht 115 

Making a heavy mane ; 
" Here maun I \ye t here raaan I dye, 

By treacheries falfe gyles ; 
Witlefs I was that eir gaif faith 

To wicked womans fmyles." 1 20 

H 3 «« Sir 


H»: A NCI BWT ?OEMS. 

t 

" Sir kpfefrt* gift ze wetfrin my botyir* 

To lean on filkcn feat* . 
My laydis ky rid lie care asoud prove, 

Quha neir kebd deidly hate : 
Jiir felf wald watch «e all the day, . 1 25 

rlir maids a deid of nkhit ; 
£nd Fairly fair riourlieart wkIS cfrtir. 

As fcho flanVb in sofur £ckt 

" Aryfe young knicht* a*»d Mount fcoOr fteid* 

Fall lowns thje {hysand day : .130 

Cheis frae my meozie qiifeom ze pleis 

To leid ze on the tyay." 
With fmylefs kfce, and vifage vyaft 

The wounded knicht re pi yd ^ . 
" Kynd cKtftain* sour ioterft ptfrfof * 135 

For heir I maun abydd. ... 

To mejk* after day nor nicht 

Can eir be fwett or fair, 
But fune bcfneath ftm draping tree, 

Cauld death (hail end my care;" 140 

With him Had piciding niicht prevail ; 

Brave Hardy kngte in to g^ia, 
With faireft words and retfon flroji£ t 

Straye courtetfuflj- in v$in. 

Syne 


« • » 




ANCIENT POEMS. 103 

Syne he has gane far hynd attowre 145 

Lord Chattans land fae wyde ; 
That lord a worthy wicht was ay, 

Quhen faes his codrage feyd ; 
Of Pi&ito race by liiothers fyde, 

Quhen Pids ruld Caledon, 150 

Lord Chattan claimd the princely maid, 

Quhen he faift Piftifli erown. 

Now with hn ferfs and flalwart train, 

He reicht 4 ryfing heicht, 
Quhair braid encampit on the dale, . l SS 

Norfs menzie lay in ficht. 
" Zonder my valiant fonS and ferfs, 

Our raging re vers wait 
On the unconquerit Scottish fwaird 

To try with us their fate. f 6a 

Make orifons to him that faift 

Oar fauls upon the rude ; 
Syne braifly fchaw zour veins ar filld 

With Caledonian blude/* 
Then forth he drew his trufty glaive, 165 

Quhyle thoufands all around 
Prawn frae their fheaths gUnft in the fun, 

And loud the bougills found. 

H 4 To 


10+ ANCIENT POEMS. 

To join his king adoun the hill ^ 

In haft his merch he made, 17© 

• Quhyle, pi ay and pibrochs, minftralh meit 

Afore him ftatly ftrade* 
" Thryfe welcum valziant ftoup of weir, 

Thy nations fcheild and pryde ; 
Thy king nae reafon has to feir 1 75 

Quhen thou art be his fyde." 


Then bows were bent and darts were thrawn ; 

For thrapg fcarce could they flic ; 
The darts clove arrows as they met, 

The arrows dart the trie. 
Lang did they rage and ficht full ferfs, 

With little fkaith to man* 
But bludy bludy was the field, 

Or that lang day was done, / . 


1S0 


The king of Scots, that findle bruikd .185 

The war that luikt lyke play, 
Drew his braid fword, and brake his bow, 

Sen bows feimt but delay. 
Quoth noble Rothfay, * f Myne I'll keip, 

I wate its bleid a feore." 190 

Haft up my merry men, cryd the king, 

As he rade qn before. 


The 


ANCIENT POEMS. io| 

The king of Norfe he focht to find, 

With him to menfe the faucht, 
Bat on his forehead there did licht - 195 

A (harp unfonfie fhaft ; 
As he his hand pat up to find 

The wound, an arrow kene, 
O waefou chance ! there pinnd his hand 

In midft betweene his ene. • 200 

•' Revenge, revenge, cryd Rothfays heir, 

Your mail coat fall nocht byde 
The ftrerigth and fharpnefs Of my daft :" 

Then fent it thruch his fyde. 
Another arrow weil he markd, 205 

It peril t his neck in twa, 
His hands then quat the filver reins, 

He law as eard did fa. 

" Sair bfeids my liege, fair, (air he bleids !* 
Again with mkht he drew 210 

And gefttjre dreid his ftdrdy bow, 
Faft the braid arrow flew : 

Wae to the knicht he ettled at 5 
Lament now quene Elgreid ; 

Hie dames to wail zour darlings fall, 215 

His zouth and -comely meid. , 


«< 


Take 


se$ ANCIENT POEMS*. 

• 

«' Take aff, take affhis coftiy jupe 

(Of gold weil,wis it twynd, 
Knit tyke the fowlers net, throuch <}tfhilk 

His fteilly harnefs ihynd) 220 

Take, Norfe, that gift frae me, and bid 

Him venge the bjude, jt beirs ; 
Say, if he face my bended bow, 

He fure nae weapon feire." 

Proud Norfe With giaiK body tall, 225 

Braid ihonider' and arms ftcong, 
Cry*d, <c Q^hair is Hardy fcntiteftfrf^md, 

And feird at Brifains thronto 3 
Thah Britons tremble at his name, 

I fane fall make him Wail* 230 

? That eir niy fword was made fae (harp* 

Sae faft his coat of tiiail." 

That brag his float heart ct)n&iHt byde» 
* Jt lent him zouthfcm tnUkl 1 

4t I'm Hardy kntte; this day* he cry*d» 235 

To Scotland's king I heeht . 
To lay thee law* as horfes ht*ft } 

My word I me*B to keip." 
Syne with the firft fttokeek he &nk*>. 
s fie garrd hit body bleid. 240 

Norfe 


ANCIENT POEMS* ft? 

Norte cue tyke gray gOfefeawke ftaird wjflfl, 

He ficht with (name' and fpyte ; 
" Difgrafd is now my far-ftm'd anfefc 

That left thee power to fcryke : n 
Then gatflus head a Maw faefcll, - 245 

It made him doun to fkrtip* 
As law a* he to tedifes aflt 

In courtly gyfe to lost, 

Full fane he raisd his bent body. 

His bow he marvelld fair, 250 

Seniblaws till then oh htm but darrd 

At touch of Fairly fair : 
Norfe ferliet too as fair as he 

To fe his ftately luke ; 
Sae fune as eir he flrake a fac, 2tf 

Sae fune his lyfe he tuke. 

. Qohair lylce a fyre to hether fct, 

Banld Thomas did advance, 
A fturdy fae with luke enrag'd 

Up towards him did prance ; 36a 

He fpurd his fteid throw thickeft ranks 

The hardy zouth to quell* 
Quha dude unmuft at his approach 

His furie to repeU. 

" That 


io9 A N C I E N T P O E M S. 

'* That fchort brown (haft fae meanly trim'd^ 265 

Luk;s lyke poor Scot lands geir, 
put dreidfnll fecms the rally point !" 

And loud he leach in jeir. 
v r. " Aft Britons blade has dimd irs fliyne ; 

This poynt cu* fhort their rvaunt :" 270 

Syne piere'd the boifteris bairded cheik; 

Nae tyme he take to taunt. » • • 

Schort qnhyle he in his fadill ftoang, 

His* ftirrup was nae ftay, 
Sae feible hang 'his unbent knee 275 

Sure taken he was fey : 
Swith on the hardened clay he fell, 

» 

Richt far was heard the thud : 
' fc But Thomas luikt not as he lay * 

All waltering in his blude. 280 

1 

With cairles gefture, mynd unmuvit,- 

On raid he north the plain ; 
His feim in thrang of fierceft ftryfe, 

Quhen winner ay the fame : 
Nor zit his heart dames dimpelit cheik 285 

Could meife faft love to bruik, 
Till vengeful Ann returnd his fcorn, 

Then languid grew his lake. 


In 


ANCIENT POEMS. 109 

In thrawis of death, with wallowit cheik 
All panting on the plain, ' 290 

The fainting corps of warriours lay, 

, Neir to aryfe again ; 

Neir to return to native land, 
Nae mair with blythfom founds 

To boift the glories of the day, 295 

And fchaw their ihining wounds. 

On Norways coaft the widowit dame 

May wafh the rocks with teirs, 
May lang luke owre the fchiples feis 

Befoir hir mate appears. 30* 

Ceife, Emma, ceife to hope in vain ; 

Thy lord lyis in the clay ; 
The valziant Scots nae revers thole 

To carry lyfe away. 

There on a lie, quhair ftands a crofs 305 

Set op for monument, 
Thoufands full fierce that fummers day 

Filld kene waris black intent. 
Let Scots, qtthyle Scots, praife Hardyknute, 
. Let Norfe the name ay dreid, 310 

Ay how he faucht, aft how he fpaird, 

Sal lateft ages reid. 

» 

Loud 




Loud and chill blew the weftlin wind, 

Sair beat the heavy fhowir, 
Mirk grew the nicht eir Hardy knute 315 

Wan heir his ftately towir. 
His towir that ufd with torches bleife 

To ftiyne fee far at nicljt, 
Seimd now as blaqk as mourning weicj, 

Nae marvel fair he fichd. 320 

•* Thairs nae licht in my ladys bowir, 

Thairs nae licht in my hall ; 
Nae blink (hynes round my Fairly fair. 

Nor ward ftands on my wall. 
** Quhat bodes it t Robert, Thomas, fay;"—- 325 

Nae anfwer fits their dreid. 
•* Stand back, my fons, Pll be zour gyde -J 9 

But by they paft with fpeid. 

" As faft I haif fped owre Scotlands faes,"— 

There ccift.hb brag of weir, 330 

Sair fchamit to mynd ocht but his<Un*e* 

And maiden Fairly fair* • 
Black feir he felt, but quhat to fek 

He will not zk with dreid ; 
Sair fchuke his body, fair hi&iiioba, 335 

And all the warrior fed* 

• m • • # 

V Since 


ANCHEtfT PO£ MS. Ill 

* # * Since this poem of Ha rdtknute was firft printed 
off, ft ill farther information has been received eoftcerning 
the original manner of its publication, and the addition* 
made to it afterwards. 

" The late Dr. John Clerk, a celebrated phyfieian in Edin- 
burgh, one of Lord Preftdent Forbes' s intimate companions* 
has left in his own handwriting, an ample account of all the 
additions and variations made in this celebrated poem, as alj* 
two additional ftanzas never yet printed." 

The title of the frft edition was, " ijARDYKtfUTE, 
a Fragment. Edinburgh. \q 19." folio. \z pages. 

Stanzas not in the firjl edition , but added afterwards in 

the Evergreen, 1724, 120*0. are the two, beginning at 

*uer. 129. " Aryfe young knkht, &C. to wr. 144.—/*- 

fiead of <ver. 143, 144, as they ftand at pre/ent 9 Dr. 

Clerk's MS. has 

With argument, but vainly ftravc 

Lang courteoufly in vain. 

Again, from *ver. 153'. Now with his fcrfs, &c. /© 176, art 

not in the firft edit. In Dr. Clerk's MS. ver. 170, (&v 

runs thus, 

In hafte his fhides he hent 

While nu&ftrell* play and pihrocks fine 

Afore him (lately went. 

Laftly,from *ver. 257. Quhair lyke a fyre, He. to the en* 
of the poem, were not in the lft copy. Variation of line the 
Ltft (<v. 336.) is 

" He feared a' could be feared," 
The two additional ftanzas come in between ver. 388* 
and v. 389. and are thefe, 

Now darts flew wavering through flaw (pcci, 
Scarce could they reach their aim; 

4 Or 


in ANCIENT POEMS. 

Or reafchM, fcarce blood the round point drew, 

'Twas all but (hot in. vain : 
Right ftrcngthy arms forfeebled grew, 

" Sair wreck'd wi* that day's toils ; 
E*en fierce-born minds now lang'd for peace, 

And curs'd war's cruel broils. 

«' Yet ftill wars horns founded to charge, 
■ Swords clafh'd and harnefs rang ; 
But faftly fae ilk blatter blew 

The hills and dales fraemang. 
Nae echo heard in doable dints, 

Nor the lang-winding horn, 
Nae mair {he blew out brade as (he 
. Did eir that fummers morn. 

f7>is obliging information the Reader owes to David Clerk* 
M. D. at Edinburgh* /on of Dr. John Clerk. 

It is perhaps needU/s to obferve* that thefe tvooftanzas* as 
well as moft of the variations above \ are of inferior merit to 
the reft of the poem* and are probably firftjketches that were 
afterwards rejected* 


THE ,ENB OF THE FIRST BOOK. 


iR.£ JL 31 U e $ 

of ANCIENT POETRY, 

&c. 

SERIES the SECOND. 

BOOK II, 


A BALLAD OF LUTHER, THE POPE, A 
CARDINAL, AND A HUSBANDMAN. • 

In tbtformtr Book ivc brought down this fecend Serici 
'f poems, as low as about tbt middle of ibi fifteenth cen- 
tury. We mwfind the Mufti deeply ("gaged in religious 
tontraverfy. The fuddtit revolution, wrought in the opi- 
nions of mankind by the Reformation, is one of the mojt 
ftriiing event! in the biftory of the human mind. It could 
«o/ but cngrofs the attention of every individual in that age, 
andiherefore no other writing! would have any chance to be 
read, but fetch as related to this grand topic. The altera- 
tions made in the ijiailiped religion by Henry Fill, tbefud- 

VOL. II. I din 


ii 4 ANCIENT POEM Sir 

■ . "v 

den changes it undefyTentJn the three fu4ceeding reigns with- 
in fo Jbort h Jpdce^s^eUven, of twelve+yeaXSy and the violent 
flrugaes bejyo&n. expiring PoPtryVafodi growing Proteftan- 
tiftni could not but titter eft all. mankind* ^^Accordingly every 
pen ■was engaged in the difpute* The followers of the Old 
and New ProfeJJtop.(as they were called) bad their refpeQive 
Ballad-makers.; and ev fry day produced fbme popular fonnet 
for or againft the Reformation. The fo^fortyiug. ballad, and 
that iri titled little john j*obo«I>Y>. may ferve for fpe- 
r cimens of the writings of each, party* ' %.atb were written 
in the reign of Edward VI ; and are not the worft that 
were compofed upon the occafibn. Controverfial divinity is 
no friend to poetic flights. Yet this ballad of " Luther and 
the Pope," is not altogether devoid of fpirit-\ it is of the 
dramatic kind* and the characters are tolerably well fuftain- 
ed ; efpecially that of Luther, which is made to fpeak in a 
manner not unbecoming tbefpirit and courage of that vigor- 
ous Reformer. It is printed from the original black-letter 
copy (in the Pepys colle£iion> vol. I. folio,) to which is pre- 
fixed a large wooden cut, defigned and executed by fome emi- 
nent mafter. This is copied in miniature, in the fmdll En- 
graving inferted above. 

We are not to wonder that the Ballad-writers of that 
age Jbould be infpired with the zeal of controverfy, when 
the very ft age teemed with polemic divinity. I have now 
before me two very ancient quarto black-letter plays : the 
one publijhed in the time of Henry Fill, intitled, <£bet? 
Cgatt; the other called Jluftp %vfomW, printed in the 
reign of Edward VI. In the former of thefe, occafion 
is taken to inculcate great* reverence for old mother church 
and her Juperftifions \ : in the other, the poet (one R. 

Wevkr) 

\ Take a fpecimen from bis high encomiums on the priefihood, 
" There is no emperour, hyug, duke, no baron 
4( That of God batb commif$yon t . 

" At batb the leeft preefi in the world beynge. 

# # # 

" God hath to them more power gyven, , 

* f Than to ety qungell, (bat is in hewn ; 

" With 


AN C I E N T POEMS. uj 

We vb'r ) with great fitccefs attacks both* So that the Stage 
in thofe days- literally was, what wi/e men have always 
wijhed it, — afupplement to the pulpit .— This was f+ much 
the cafe* that in the play of Lufy Jwventus, chapter and 
i/erfe are every where f noted as formally, as in a fermon j 
take an inftance, • 

" The Lord by his prophet Ewchiel fayeth it this wi/i 

playnlye, 
•* As in the xxxiij chapter it doth appere : 
" Be converted, O ye children, fcfr." - 

From this play we learn that moft of the young people were 

New Gofpellers, or friends to the Reformation; and that 

the old were tenacious ofthedo3nnes imbibed in their youth : 

for thus the Devil is introduced lamenting the downfal of 

fuperfiition, 

" The olde people would believi ftit in, my lawes, 
" But the yonger fort leade them a contrary way f 
€t They wyl not beleve, they play nly fay, 
u In old* traditions, and made by men, &c" 

I 2 And 


« 


With v. -words be may confecrate 
" Goddet body in fiesjbe and blade to take, 
" And bandehtb bis maker bytwene bis haiidtu 1 

" Tbe preefi byndetb and unbindetb all bandes, 
t€ Botbe in ertbe and in btven*— * 
u Tbou minijlers all tbe facramentes /even, 
" Though we kyft t by fete tbou were worthy j 
" Tbou art tbefurgyan that cureth fynne dedly ; 
st No remedy may ivefynde under God, * 

" But alone on preejibodc. 

u God gave prufi tbat dignhe, 

" And lettet b tbem in bis Jfede amonge us be, 
€t Tbui be they above aungets in degre." 

See Hawkins's Qrig. cfErtg. Drsma. VoU L p» 61. 


n6 ANCIENT POEMS, 

And in another place Hypocrify urges, 

" The worlde was never meri 
«' Since cbyldren werefo boulde : 
* *' Now every boy wil be a teacher, 

" The father a foole, the ebyld a preacher." 

9 

Of 1 be plays abovementioned, to thefirft is fubjoined thefoU 
lowing Printer's Colophon, ^[ Stytt* ennet$ tW maraf pfope 
of tifterg (@an. f 3mpr?ntei) at JLonBon in Ipotoiejef ctytdt 
' |>attoe by me Mn ^&fcot. +• Z» Mr, Gar rick's colleclion 
is an imperfed copy of the fame play, 'printed by Richarde 
Pynfon. 

The other is intitled, %n entevlu&e eaflcfc ?£uff p 3tobentti0 r 
find is thus diftinguijbed at the end : #ini?\ quoti Ht. f&etor.< 
SmprintctJ at Uontion in #auTe£ c&urc&e peart, 69 acfirajjam 
J)ele at tfc* ffgne of t^e £anr6c. Of this too Mr. Garrick 
has an imperfed copy of a different edition. 

Ofthefe two Plays, the Reader may find fome further par" 
ticulars in the former Volume, Book IL fee The Essay on 
the Origin of the English Stage ; and the curious 
Reader will find the Plays themfelves printed at large in 
Hawkins's "Origin of the Englijb Drama." 3 vols'. 
Oxford. 1773. limo. 


The Husbandman. 

LE T us lift up our hartes all, 
And prayfe the lordes magnificence, 
Which hath given the wolaes a fall, 
And is become our ftrong defence : 
For they thorowe a falfc pretens 
From Chriftes bloude dyd all us leade J, 

J j. t. denied us the Cup. fee bel«v> 3 ver. 94. 


5 


Getty ngc 


AN C I E N T POEMS. 117 

Gettynge from every man his pence, 
As fatisfaftours for the deade. 


For what we with our flayles coulde get 
To kepe our hoofe, and feryauntes ; I© 

That did the Freers from us fet, 
And with our foules played the marchauntes : 
And thus they with theyr falfe warrantes 

Of our fweate have eaftlye lyved, 
That for fatnefTe theyr belyes pantes, 1 5 

So greatlye have they us dtceaued. 

They fpared not the fatherlefTe, 

The carefull, nor the pore wydowe ; 
They wolde have fomewhat more qr leffe, 

If it above the ground did growe : fQ . 

But now we huflbandmen do knowe 
Al their fubteltye, and their falfe cade ; 

For the lorde hath them overthrowe 
With his fvvete word now at the lafte." 

Doctor, Martin Luther. 

Thou antichrift, with thy thre crownes, 25 

Haft ufurped kynges powers, . 
As having power over realmes and townes, 

Whom thou oughteft to ferve all houres : 

Thou thinkeft by thy ju^glyng colours 
Thou maift lykewife Gods word opprefle $ 30 

I J As 


n8 ANCIENT POEMS. 

As do the deceatful fouler*. 
When they theyr nettes craftelye drefle. 

Thou flattered every prince, and lord, 

Thretening poore men with fwearde and fyre ; 

All thofe, that do followe Gods worde, 3; 

4 To make them cleve to thy defire, 
Theyr bokes thou burneft in flaming fire ; 

Curfing witlTboke, bell, and can dell, 
Such as to reade them have defyre, 

Or with them are wyllynge to meddell. 40 

r 

Thy falfe power wyl I bryng down, 

Thou (halt not raygne many a yere, 
I fhall dryve the from citye and towne, 

Even with this -pen that thou fey fie here : 

Thou fyghteft with fwerd, fhylde, and fpeare, 45 
But I wyll fyght with Gods worde ; 

Which is now fo open and cleare, 
That it fhall brynge the under the borde *. 

The PopA 

Though I brought never fo many to hel, 

And to utter dampnacion, cq 

Throughe myne enfample, and confel, t 

Or thorow any abhominacion, 

Yet doth our lawc excufe my fafhion* 
And thou, Luther, arte accurfed ; 


f ;• e. Make tbtt knock under the talk* 


'For 


ANCIENT" .POEMi ■ 119 

For blamynge me, and my cofcdicion, 55 

The holy decres have the condempned. 

Thou ftryveft againft my purgatory, 

Becaufe thou fin deft it not in fcripture; 
As though I bymyne au&orite 

Myght not make one for myne honoure. 60 

Knoweft thou not, that I have power 
To make, and mar, in heaven and hell. 

In erth, and every creature ? 
Whatsoever I do it m«ft be well. 

As for fcripture, I am above it ; $S 

Am not I Gods hye vicare ? 
Shulde I be bounde to folowe it, 

As the carpenter his ruler t ? 

Nay, nay, hcretickes ye are^ 
That will not obey my au&oritie, 7b # 

With tljis sword e I wy 11 declare, 
That ye flial al accurfed be. 

V 

The Cardinal* 

I am a cardinall of Rome, 

Sent from Chriftes hye vicary, 
To graunt pardon to more, and fume, ' 75 . 

That wil Luther refift ftrongly : 

He is a greate hereticke treuly, 
And regardeth to much the fcripture $ 

I 4 For 

•J* i, #• bit ruU% 


no ANCIENT POEMS. 

For he thinketh onely thereby 
To fubdue the popes high honoure. go 

Receive ye this pardojn devoutely, , , 

And loke that ye agaynft hftn fight ; 
PI u eke up you re herts, and be manlye, 

For the pope fayth ye do hut ryght ; 

And this be fure, that at one flyghte, 85 

Ailthough ye be overcome by chaunce, 

Ye mall to heaven go with greate myghte ; 
God can make you no refiftaunce. 

But thefe heretikes for their medlynge 

Shall go down to hel every one ; 90 

For they have not the popes bleflynge, 

Nor regarde his holy pardon : 

They thinke from all destruction 
By Chriftes bloud to be faved, 

Fearynge not our excommunicacion, 95 

Therefore ihall they al be dampned. 


H. JOHN 


1 


ANCIENT. POEMS. 121 


H. 

JOHN ANDERSON MY JO. 
A Scottish So kg. 

Whilt in England verfe was made the 'vehicle of jontro- 
verjy, and Popery was attacked in it by logical argument, 
*r flinging fat ire ; we may be fure the zeal of the Scott ijh 
Reformers would not fuffer their pens to be idle, s but many 
a pqft**l was difcbarged at the Romifh priefts, and their 
enormous encroachments on property. Of this kind perhaps -is 
the following, (preferred in an ancient MS. Collection of 
Scottijh poems in the Pepyfian library :) 

. Tak a Wobfter, that is leill, 
And a Miller, that will not (leill, 
With ane Prieft, that is not gredy, 
And lay ane deid corpfe thame by, 
And, throw virtue of thame three, 
That deid corpfe fall qwyknit be. 

Thus far all was fair : but the furious hatred of popery 
led them to employ their rhymes in aftillmore licentious- man- 
ner. It is a received tradition in Scotland, that at the 
tine of the Reformation, ridiculous and obfcene fongs were 
compofed to be Jung by the rabble to the tunes of the moft 
favourite hymns in the Latin fervice . Greene ileeves and 
podding pies (defigned to ridicule the popijh clergy) is 
faid to have been one ofthefe metamorphofed hymns : Maggy 
Lauder was another : John Anderfon my jo was a third. 
The original mufic of all thefe burlefque fonnets was very 
fae» To give afpecimen of their manner > we have infer ted 

- one 


iaa - A N C I E N-T POEM S. 

0nt of the leaft offcnfive. The Reader nvill pardon the 
meannefs of the competition for the fake of the anecdote, 
•suhicb ftrongly marks thefpirit of the times. 

In the prefent Edition this fong is much improved by fome 
new readings communicated by a friend ; who thinks the 
*' Seven Bairns," in ft. 2d. allude to the Seven Sacraments ; 
Jive of which were the fpurious offspring of Mother Church : 
at tbefirftft. contains afatirical allujion to the luxury of the 
popift clergy. t ' 

The adaptation of folemn church mufic to thefe ludicrous 
pieces, and, the jumble of ideas , thereby occafioneJ, will ac- 
count for the following fa8.— From the Records of the Ge- 
neral AJfembly in Scotland, called, " The Book of the Uni- 
verfal Kirk" p. 90. Jth July, 156$, it appears, that 
Thomas Baffin dyne printer in Edinburgh, printed " a pfalme ' 
41 buik, in we end <w hereof *was found print it, one baudy 
" fang, tailed* " Welcome Fortunes V* 

Woman. 

JOHN Anderfon my jo, c'um in as ze gae bye, 
And ze fall get a flieips heid weel baken in a pye ; 
Weel baken in a pye, and the haggis in a pat : 
John Anderfon my jo, cum in, and ze's get that. 

Man. 

And how doe ze, Cummer ? and how hae ze threven? 

< 

Aadhow mony bairns hae ze ? Wo m. Cummer, I hae feven. 
Man. Are they to zour awin gude man } Wom. Na, 

Cummer, na ; 
For £ve of tham were gotten, quhan he was awa\ 

* St* a/Jo Blograpb. Brit an. vol, 1. p. 177. 

« III. LITTLE 


ANCIENT POEMS. 113 


in. 

LITTLE JOHN NOBODY-* 

We have here a 'witty libel on the Reformation under king 

Ed-ward VI. written about the year 1 550, and preferred in 
the Pepys collection y Britijh Mufeum, and Strype's Mem. of 
Cranmer. The author artfully declines entering into the 
merits of the caufe, and wholly refleQs on the lives and anions 
of many of the Reformed* It is fo eafy to find flaws and 
imperfections in the conduct of men, even the hejt of them* 
and fill eajier to make general exclamations about the pro- 
fl*Z ac y °f tb e prefent times, that no great point is gained by 
arguments of that fort ', unlefs the author could have proved 
that the principles of the Reformed Religion had a natural 
tendency to produce a corruption of manners : whereat he in* 
dire Si ly owns, that their reverend father [archbijhop 
Cranmer] had ufed the moft proper means to fern the tor- 
rent, by giving the people accefs to the fcriptures, by teach" 
ing them to pray with under/landings and by publijhing ho* 
milies, and other religious trails. It muft however be ac- 
knowledged, that our libeller had at that time fujjicient 
room for jvft fatire. For under the banners of the Reformed 
bad inlijted themfelves, many concealed papifls, who had 
private ends to gratify ; many that were of no religion ; 
many gteedy courtiers, who thirjted after the poffeffions of 
the church > and many diffolute perfons, who wanted to Jtt 
exempt from all ecclefiaftical cenfures : And as theje men were 
loudeft of all others in their cries for Reformation, fo in 
tffeSl none obftrufted the regular progrefs of it fo much, or 
by their vicious lives brought vexation and Jhame more on 
the truly vent table and pious Reformers* 

The 


124 ANCIENT POEMS. 

*Tbe reader will remark the fondnejs of our Satirijf for 
alliteration : in this be was guilty of no hffefiation orfingu- 
larity ; his <verfification is that of Pierce Plowman's Vifions 9 
in which a recurrence of Jimilar letters is effential : to this 
he has only fuper added rhyme, ' which in his time began to be 
the general praBice. See farther remarks on this kind of 
metre in the. preface to Book hi. Ballad i. • 

IN december, when the dayes draw to be fhort, 
After november, when the niglhs wax noyfome and 
As I pad by a place privily at a port, * [long ; 

I faw one fit by himfelf making a fong : 
His lafl * talk of trifles, who told with his tongue 
That few were faft i'th' faith. I « freyned f* that freake, 
Whether he wanted wit, or fome had done him wrong. 

He faid, he was little John Nobody, that durft not fpeake. 
• 

John Nobody, quoth I, what news ? thou foon note and 
What maner men thou meane, that are fo mad, [tell 
He faid, Thefe gay gallants, that wil conftrue the gofpel, 
As Solomon the fage, with femblance full fad ; 
To difcufTe divinity they nought adfead ; 
More meet it were for them to milk kye at a Heyke. 
Thou lye ft, quoth I, thou lofel, like a leud lad. [fpeake. 
He faid, he was little John Nobody, that durft not 

Its meet for every man on this matter to talk, 
And the glorious gofpel ghoftly to have in mind ; 
It is fothe faid, that fedt but much unfeemly flcalk, 
As boyes babble*in books, that in fcripture are blind : 

Yet 
• Pcrbaps He left talk, j. feyned. MS$. end P. C, 


ANCIENT POEM S. 125 

» 

Yet to their fancy foon a caufe wil find ; 
As to live in luft, in lechery to leyke : 
Such caitires count to be come of Cains kind ; 
But that I little John Nobody durft not fpeake. 

For our reverend father hath fet forth an order, 
Our fervice to be faid in our feignours tongue ; 
As Solomon the fage fet fqrth the fcripture ; 
Our fuffrages, and fervices, with many a' fweet fong, 
With homilies, and go<Jly books us among, 
That no ftiff, ftubborn ftomacks we'lhould freyke : 
But wret6hes nere worfe to do poor men wrong ; 
But that I little John Nobody dare not fpeake. 

For bribery was never fo great, fince born was our Lord, 
And whoredom was never les hated, iith Chrift har- 

rowed hel, 
And poor men are fo fore punifhed commonly through 

the world, 
That it would grieve any one, that good is, to hear tel : 
For al the homilies and good books, yet their hearts be 

fo quel, 
That if a man do amiffe, with mifchiefe they wil him 

wreake ; \ 

The faftiion of thefe new fellows it is fo vile and fell ; 
But that I little John Nobody dare not fpeake. 

Thus to live after their luft, that life would they have, 

And in lechery to leyke al their long life ; 

For 

Ver. 3. Cains kind,] So in Pierce the Plowman's creed, the preud 
friars are faid to be 

-— — — « &f Capmitf ^no." Fid. %. € \y *. 


„ 1 


i 2 6 ANCIENT POEMS! 

For al the preaching of Paul, yet many a proud knave 
Wilmove mifchiefe in their mind both to maid and wife 
To bring them in advontry, or elfe they wil ftrife, 
And in brawling about baudery, Gods command menu 

breake : < 
But of thefe frantic il fellowes, few of them do thrife ; , 
Though 1 little John Nobody dare not fpeake. 

§ 

If thou company with them, they wil currifhly carp* 

and not care 
' According to their foolifh fantacy ; but faft wil they 

naught : 
Prayer with them is but prating; therefore they it forbear: 
Both almes deeds, and holinefs, they hate it in their 

thought : 
Therefore pray we to that prince, that with his blond 

us bought, 
That he'wil mend that is amifs: for many a manful freyke 
Is forry for thefe fedts, though they fay little or nought ; 
And that I little John Nobody dare not once fpeake. 

Thus in no place, this Nobody, in no time I met, 
Where no man, * ne * nought was, nor nothing did 

appear ; 
Through the found of a fynagogue for forrow I fwett, 
That * Aeolus +' through the ecchodid caufe me to hear. 
' Then I drew me down into a dale, whereas the dumb deer 
Did fhiver for a (hower ; but I fhunted from a freyke : 
For I would no wight In this world wift who I were, 
But little John Nobody, that dare not once fpeake. 

IV. Q^ 

• then, MSS. and'P. C. f Hercules, MSS. and PC. 


r 


ANCIENT POEMS. lay 


IV. 

Qi ELIZABETH'S VERSES, WHILE PRISONER 

AT WOODSTOCK. 

Writ with charcoal on a shutter, 

— *■ are preferred by Hentzner, in that part of his Trawls* 
nvhicF has lately been reprinted in fo elegant a manner si 
STRAWBERRY HILL. In Hentzner' s book they <wer* 
wretchedly corrupted, but are here given as amended by his 
ingenious Editor, The old, orthography, and one or iiv 
ancient readings of Hentzner* s copy are here reftored. 

OH, Fortune! how thy reftlefle wavering Gate 
Hath fraught with cares my troubled witt ! 
Witnes this prefent prifonn, whither fate 

Could beare t me, and the joys I quite 
Thou caufedefl the guiltie to be lofed 5 

From bandes, wherein are innocents inclofed: 
Caufing the guihles to'be ftraite referved, 
And freeing thofe that death had well deferved. 
But by her envie can be nothing wroughte, 
So God fend to my foes all they have thoughte. 

a. d. mdlv. ' Elizabeths, Prisonner. 

V. THE 

Vtr. 4* Could bearc, ;j an ancient idiom, equivalent to Did hear 
w llatb heme, S:e btluw the Beggar of Bednal Green, ver, 57, 
Could fay. 


128 ANCIENT POEMS. 


V. 

TIJE HEIR OF LINNE. 

This old ballad is given from a copy in the editor* s folio 
MS ; fome breaches and defecls in which , rendered the in- 
firtion of a few fupplemental fianzas necejjary, Thefe it is 
hoped the reader will pardon. t 

From the Scottijh phrafes here and there difcernable in this 
poem, it Jhould fiem to have been originally compofed beyond 
the Tweed. 

The Heir ofLinne appears not to have been a Lor J of 
Parliament , but a Laird, wbofe title went along with 
his eft ate* 

Part the First. 

LITHE and liflen, gentlemen, • 
To ling a fong I will beginne : 
It is of a lord of faire Scotland, 
Which was the unthrifty heire ofLinne. 

His father was a right good lord, 5 

His mother a lady of high degree ; 

But they, alas ! were dead, him froe, 
And he lov'd keeping companie. 


T« 


ANCIENT POEMS. 129 

To fpefld die daye with merry cheare, 
.To dfinke and revell every night, 10 

To card and dice from eve to morne. 
It was, T ween, his hearts delighte. 

To ride, to runne, to rant, to roare, 

To alwaye fpend and never fpare, 
I vvott, an' it were the king himfelfs, 15 

Of gold and fee he mote be bare. 

Soe fares the unthrifty lord of Linne 
. Till all his gold is gone and fpent ; 
And he mun fell his landes fo broad, 
Hie houfe, and landes, and all his rent. 20 

His father had a keen flewarde, 

And John o* the Scales was called hee : 

But John -is become a gentei-man, 
And John has gott both gold and fee. 

Sayes, Welcome, welcome, lord of Linne, 25 

Let nought -difturb thy merry cheere, 

Iff thou wilt fell thy landes foe broad, 
Good ftore of gold He give thee h.ere. 

My gold is gone, my money is fpent ; 

My lande no we take it unto thee : 30 

Give me the golde, good John o' the Scales, 

And tbiae for aye my lande (hall bsc. 

* 

Vol.. II. K Then 


130 ANCIENT.POEMS. 

Then John he did him to record draw, 
And John he gave him a gods-pennie J ; 

But for every ponnde that John agreed, y^ 

The lande, I wis, was well worth three. 


He told him the gold upon the board, 
He was right glad his land to winne i 

The land is mine, the gold is thine* 
And now lie be the lord of Linne. 


40 


{Thus he hath fold his land foe broad, 
Both hill and holt, and moore and finne. 

All bat a poore and lonefome lodge, 
That flood far off in a lonely glenne. 

For foe he to his father highi : 45 

My fonne, when I am gonne, fayd hee, 

Then thou: wilt fpend thy lande fo broad, 
And thou wilt fpend thy gold fo free: 

But fweare me nowe npon the roode, 

That lonefome lodge thou'lt never fpend ; 50 
For when all the world doth frown on thee,. 

Thou there (halt find a faithful friend. 

The heire of Linne is full of golde : 
And come with me, my friends, fayd hee, 

Let's drinke, and rant, and merry make, 55 

And he that fpares, ne'er mote he thee. 

They 

* L u tarntfl-monty j frtm th* Frwb x D<nUr a DkuS 


I 


ANCIENT POEMS, 131 

They ranted, drank/ and merry made, 

Till ail his gold it waxed thinne ; 
And then his friend es they flank away ; 

They left the unthrifty heire of Linne* 60 

He had never a penny left in his purfe, 

Meyer a penny left but three, 
The tone was brafs* and the tone was lead, 

And tother it was white money. 

Nowe well-away, fayd the heire of Linne, 65 
• Nowe well- away, and woe is mee, 
For when I was the lord of Linne, 
1 never wanted gold or fee. 

Butmany a truftye friend have I, 

And why (hold I feel dole or care ? 70 

tie borrow of them all by turnes, 

Soe need I not.be never bare. 

But one, I wis, was not at home, 

Another had payd his gold away ; 
Another calPd him thriftlefs loone, 75 

. And bade him iharpely wend Jus way. 

Now well* away, fayd the heire of lAnnc, 

Now well-away, and woe is me ! 
For when I had my landes fo broad, 

On me they liv'd right merrilee. 80 


M I 


ij2 ANCIENT POEM 

To beg my bread from door to door 
I wis, it were a brenning frame : 

To rob and ileal it were a finne : 
To worke my limbs I cannot frame. 


Now lie away to lonefome lodge, {5 

For there my father bade me wend ; 

When all the world flioald frown on mee, 
I there flioid find a trufty friend. 


Part the Second. 

■ » 

AWAY then hyed the heire oFLinne 
O'er hill and holt, and moor and fenne Tv 
Untill he came to lonefbme lodge, , • 
That flood fo lowe in a lonely glenne. 

He looked up, he looked downe, 
In hope fome comfort fer to winne, 

But bare and lothly were the walles : 

Here's forry cheare, quo' the heire of Linne. 

The little windowe dim and darke 

Was hung with ivy, brere, and yewe ; li 

No fhimmering funn here ever fhone ; 

No halcfome breeze here ever blew* 


ANCIENT POEMS. 133 

No chair, ne table he mote fpye, 
No chearful hearth, ne welcome bed. 

Nought fave a rope with renning noofe* 15 

That dangling hung up o'er his head. 

And over it in broad letters, 

Thefe words were written fo plain to fee : 
41 Ah ! gracelefle wretch, haft fpent thine all, 

49 And brought thyfelfe to penurle 1 29 

4t All this my boding mind mifgave, 

" I therefore left this trufty friend : ' 

" Let it now iheeld thy foule difgrace, 

" And all thy fhame and forrows end." 

Sorely fhent wi* this rebuke, 25 

Sorely fhent was the heire of Linne, 

His heart, I wis, was near to braft 

With guilt and forrowe, fhame and fmne. 

Never a word fpake the heire of Linne, 

Never a word he fpake but three : JP 

4t This is a trufty friend indeed, 
*' And is right welcome unto mee/' 

Then round his necke the corde he drewe, 

And fprang aloft with his bodie : 
When lo ! the ceiling burft in twaine, 35 

And to the ground came tumbling hee. 

K 3 Aftpnye4 


13+ ANCIENT POEMS. 

Aftonyed lay the* heire of Linne, 

Ne knewe if he were live or dead. 
At length he looked, and fawe a bille, 

And in it a key of gold fo redd* 4* 

He took the bill, and lookt it on, 
Strait good comfort found he there : 

It told him of a hole in the wall, 
In which there flood three chefts in-fere f • 

Two were full of the beaten golde, 45 

The third was full of white* money ; 

And over them in broad letters 

Thefe words were written fo plaine to fee-: 

c< Once more, my fonne, I fette thee clere ; 

" Amend thy life and, follies paft; 50 

" For but thou amend thee of thy life, 

" That rope muft be thy end at laft." 

And let it bee, fayd the heire of Linne ; 

And let it bee, but if I amend t - 
For here I will make mine avow. 55 

This reade [| (hall guide me to the end. 

1 

Away tfien went the heire of Linne ; 
Away he went with a merry cheare ; 


I wis, 


■f* in-: fere, '• e * together, - J h 5. unlefs I amend, 

•J f. e% adv'pty covnfe/* 


ANCIENT POEMS. i 3s 

I wis, he neither flint ne ftayd, 
Till John o* the Scales houfe he came neare. 60 

And when he came to John o' the^ Scales, 
Up at the fpeere * then looked hee ; 

There fate three lords at. the hordes end, 
Were drinking of the wine fo free. ' 

And then befpake the heire of Linne 65 

To John o' the Scales then looted hee : 

I pray thee now, good John o' the Scales, 
One forty pence for to lend mee. 

Away, away, thon thriftlefs loone ; 

Away, away, this may not bee : 79 

For Chrifls curfe on my head, he fayd, 

If ever I truft thee one pennie. 

Then befpake the heire of Linne, 
To John 0' the Scales wife then fpake he : 

Madame, fome alines on me beftowe, 75 

I pray for fweet faint Charitie. 

Away, away, thou thriftlefs loone, 
I fwear thou getteft no almes of mee ; 

K 4 For 


* Perhaps the Hole in the dotr or window, by which it was fpeered, 
f . e. fparrtd, faftcned, or /but, — In. Bale's id Part of the ABs of Eng, 
Votaries, we- have this firafe, (fo, 38.^ " The dorc therof ©ft tymtt 
" opened and Speared agayne." 


t 3 5 ANCItNT POEMS, 

For if we (held hang any lofel heere, 

The flrft we wold begin with the«» $o 

Then befp^ke a good felldwe, 

Which fat at John o' the Scales his bord : 
Sayd, Turn againe, thou hetre of Linne; 

Some time thoa waft a well good lord : 

Some time a good fellow thou hall been, Sc 

And fparedft not thy gold and fee, 
Therefore He lend thee forty pence, 

And other forty if need bee. 

And ever, I pray thee, John o' the Scales, 

To let him fit in thy companee : go 

Eor well I wot thou had ft his land, 
And a good bargain it was to thee. 

Up then fpake him John o' the Scales, 
All wood he anfwer'd him againe: 

Now thrifts curfe on my head, he faycr, 95 

But I did lofe by that bargaine. 

And here I proffer thee, heire of Linne, 
Before thefe lords fo faire and free, 

Thou malt have it backe again better cheape, 
By a hundred marked, than I had it of thee. 100 

I drawe you to record, lords, he faid. 
With that he gave him a gods pennce : 

Nov? 


AN C I EN T P O E M S. 137 

Now by my fay, layd the heire of Linne, 
And here, good John, is thy money. 

And he pull'd forth three bagges of gold, 105 
And layd them down upon the bord : 

All woe begone was John o' the Scales, 
Soe fhent he cold fay never a word. 

He told him forth the good red gold, 

He told it forth with mickle dinne. 1 10 

The gold is thine, the land is mine, 

And now Ime againe the lord of Linne. 

Sayes, Have thou here, thou good fellowe, 

Forty pence- thou didft lend mee 2 
Now I am againe the lord of Linne, 1 15 

And forty pounds I will give thee. 

Now welladay ! fayth Joan o* the Scales : 
Now welladay ! and woe is my life ! 

Yefterday I was lady of Linne, 

Now Ime but John o' the Scales his wife. 129 

Now fare thee well, fayd the heire of Linne ; 

Farewell, good John o' the Scales, faid hee : 
^Vhen next I want to fell my land, 

Good John o' the Scales, He come to thee. 


VI GA3- 


133 ANCIENT fOiMS. 

VI. 

GASCOIGNE'S PRAISE OF THE FAIR BRIDGES, 
AFTERWARDS LADY SANDES, 

On her having a scar in her forehead. 

George Gafcoigne was a celebrated put in the early part 
if Queen Elizabeth's reigH, and appears to great advantage 
among the mifcellaneous writers of that age,- He was author 
of three or four plays , and of many fmaller poems ; one of 
the moft remarkable of which is afatire in blank verfe, call* 
ed the Steele-glass, 1576. 4/0. 

Gafcoigne was born in EJJex, educated in both univerfi- 
ties, whence he removed to Gray 9 s-inn ; but , difli king the 
fudy of the law. became frft a dangler at court, and after- 
wards afoldier in the wars of the Low Countries* He had 
no great fuccefs in any of thefe purfutts, as appears from a 
poem of bis, Untitled, " Gafcoigne 9 s Wodmanjhip, written 
** to lord Gray of Wilton." Many of his epiftles dedicatory 
are dated in 1 575, 1576, from "his poore houfe in WaJ- 
*' thamftoe: 99 where he died a middle-aged man in 1578, 
according to Anth. Wood : or rather in 1577$ if he is the 
perfon meant in an old traS, intitled, " A remembrance of 
" the well employed Life and godly End of Geo. Gas- 
" coigne, Efq\ who deceafed at Stamford in Lincoln* 
" Jhire, OS* 7. 1 577. by Geo. Whetfione, Gent, an eye* 
" witne/s of his gojtly and charitable end in this world" 
/[to. no date.— ~>{ From a MS. ofOldys.] 

A very ingenious critic thinks " Gafcoigne has much ex* 
" cieded all the poets of his age, in fmoothnefs and harmony 
*' of verification ||." But the truth is, fcarce any of the 
earlier poets of Q. Elizabeth's time are found deficient in 
harmony and fmoothnefs* tho 9 thofe qualities appear fo rare 
in the writings of their fucceffors. In the Paradise op 
dainty dev ises*, ( the Dodflef sMifcellany of thofe times) 

t wiU 

I Obfervationt on the Faerie S$ueen t Vol. II. p* 168. 

* printed in 1578, 1596, and perhaps oftener, in qt; black let* 


ANCIENT POEMS. 139 

will hardly be found one rough, or inharmonious lim \ * 
mob ere as the numbers of Jon/on, Donne, and moft of their 
contemporaries, frequently offend the ear, like the filing of a. 
Jaw.— Perhaps this is in fome meafure to be accounted for 
from the growings pedantry of that age, and from the wri- 
ters affecJing to run their lines into one another, after the 
manner of the Latin and Greek poets. 
^The following poem ( 'which the elegant writer above 
quoted hath recommended to notice, as poffejjed of a delicacy 
rarely to be feen in that early ft ate of our poetry) properly 
confifts of alexandrines of 12 and 14 fyllables, and is 
printed from two quarto black letter colleclions of Gafcoigne* s 
pieces ; the fir ft intitled, *' A hundretb fundrie fiowres, 
" bounde up in one fmall pofie, &c. London, imprinted for 
€€ Ricbarde Smith :" without date, but from a letter of 
H. W* (p. 202 . ) compared with the Printer's epift. to the 
Reader* it appears to have been publijhed in 1572* or 3. 
The other is intitled, " The Pofie s of George Gafcoigne, Efq; 
' * corrected, perfeQcd, and augmented by the authour 5 1575. 
"—Printed at Lond.Jbr Richard Smith, &c." No year, 
but the epift. dedicat. is dated 1576, 

In the title page of this laft (by way of printer's f, or 
bookfeller's device) is an. ornamental wooden cut, tolerably 
well executed, wherein time is reprefented drawing the figure 
of Truth out of a pit or cavern, 'with this legend, Occulta 
Veritas tempore patet [r. s.] This is mentioned 
becaufe it is not improbable but the accidental fight of this 
or fome other title page containing the fame device, fuggefted 
to Rubens that well known defign of a fimilar kind, which 
he has introduced into the Luxemburg gallery ||, and which 
hat been fo juftly cenfuredfor the unnatural manner of its 
execution.— The device abovementtoned being not ill adapted 
to thefubjecl of this volume, is with fome fmall variations 
copied in a plate, which to gratify the curiofity of the 
Reader is prefixed to Book IIL 

, JN 

J The fame is true of moft of the poems in the Mirrour of Magistrates, 
1^63, \to, and even of Surrey' j Poems, 1557. 
• /| 'Henrti B inn em an, |) Li Tim* racouvxz la Vxkzti. 


*40 ANCIENT POEMS. 

IN court whofo demaundcs • 

What dame doth moil exccll ; 
For my conceit I muft needes fay, 
Faire Bridges beares the bel : % 

Upoir whofe lively cheeke, f 

To prove my judgment true, 
The rofe andlillie fteme to drive 

For equall change of hewe : 

And therewithal! fa welt 

Hir graces all agree, 14 

No frowning cheere dare once prefume 

la hir foreet face to bee* 

*" Although fome lavifhe lippes* 
"Which like fome other beft, 
Will fay, the blemt ftie on hir bfow# tt 

Difgraceth all the reft. 

Thereto I thus replie, 

God wotte, they little knowe 
The hidden capfe of that mifhap, 

Nor how the harm did growe : ' t& 

For wlien dame Nature firft 

Had framde hir heavenly face, 
Aod thoroughly bedecked it 

With goodly gleames of grace ; 

I ft 


ANCIENT POEMS. 14c 

It lyked hir fo well : 2j 

Lo here, quod fhe, a peece 
For perfeft fhape, that pafleth all 

Appelles' workc in Greece. 

This bayt may chaunce to catche 

The greateft God of love, y& 

Or mightie thundring Jove hknfe]/, 

That rules the roaft above. 

But out, alas ! thofe wordes 

Were vaunted all in vayne ; 
And fome unfeen wer prefent there, 3$ 

Pore Eridges, to thy pain. 

For Cupide, crafty- boy, 

Clofe in a corner (ioode, 
Not blyndfold then, to gaze on hir : 

I geffe it did him good, 40 

Yet when he felte the flame 

Gan kindle in his breft, 
And herd dame Nature boaft by hir 

To break him of his reft, 

His hot newe-chofen love 45 

He chaunged into hate, 
And fodeynly with mightie mace 

Gan rap hir on the pite. 


i 4 z ANCIENT POEMi 

It greeved Nature mache 

To fee the era ell deede : 5* 

Mce feeme* I fee hir, how flie wept 

To fee hir dearling bleede. 

Wei yet, quod ihe, this hurt 
' ' Shal have fome helpe I trowe : 

And quick with fkin (he coverd it, 55 

That whiter is than fnowe. ' 

Wfcerwith Dan Cupide fled, 

For feare of farther flame, 
When angel-like he faw hir fhine, 

Whome he had fmit with fhame. 6m 

Lo, thus was Bridges hurt 

In cradel of hir kind : 
Thecoward Cupide brake hir browe 

To wreke his wounded mynd. 

The fear ftill there remains ; 65 

No force, there let it bee : 
There is no cloude that can eclipfe 

So bright a funne, as ihe. 

VII. PAIR 


Ver. 62. In cradel of hir kind s u e. in the cradle of ker family^ 
Qgerjt—Set Warun't tkfcrv€tim> vd* 2. />• 137* 

3 

l 


. 1 


ANCIENT POEMS. i« 


/ 


VII. 
FAIR ROSAMOND. 

Moft of the circumftances in this popular ftory of king 
Henry. II, and the beautiful Rofamond have been taken for 
fa8 by our Englijh Hiftorians ; who, unable to account for 
the unnatural conduQ of queen Eleanor in ftimulating her 
fons to rebellion j have attributed it to jealoufy, and Juppo- 
fed that Henry 9 s amour with Rofamond was the objeh of 
that pajfton. 

Our old Englijh annalifts feem, moft of them, to have fol- 
lowed Higden the monk ofChefter, wbofe account witbfom* 
enlargements is thus given by Stow. " Rofamond the fayre 
%t daughter of Walter lord Clifford, concubine to Henry //. 
** (poifoned by queen E lienor, as fome thought) dyed at 
<c Woodftocke [J. D. 1 177.] where king Henry had made 
4< for her a boufe of wonderfull working ; fo that no man 
<c or woman might come to her, but he that was inftru&td 
by the king, orfuch as were right fecret with him Undo- 
ing the matter* This houfe after fome was named Laby- 
rinthus, or Dedalus worke, which was wrought like uk- 
•* to a knot in a garden * called a Maze f ; but it was com- 
monly faid, that laftly the queene came to her by a clue of 
thridde, or filke, and fo dealt with her, that Jhe lived 
not long often : but when jhe was dead, Jhe was buried 
at Godftow in an houfe of nunnes, befide Oxford-, wifU 
thefe verfes upon her tombe, 

" Hie jacet in tumba, Rofa mundi, non Rofa munda : 
M Non redolet, fed olet, quae redolere folet. 




«€ 
«C 
«C 
*€ 
«< 


U 


•f Confifttng of vault* under ground, arched and uostlhd meitb Brick 
andji*nc t according to Drayton* See note on kit Ef'ifllc of Rojamond* 


144 A N C I E K ? P O E M S. 


'* In Englijh thus : 


€C The rofe of the world, but not the cleave flowre 4 , 
'* Is now here graven ; to whom Beauty was lent f 

€t In this grave full darke nowe is bit bowre, 
" That by her life was Jweete and redolent ; 
" But now that Jbe is from this life blent* 

" Though fife were fweete, now foully doth Jhe ftinke. 

" A mirrour gdod for all men, that on her tbinke" 

Stowe's Annals, Ed. 1631. /. 154* 

How the queen gained admittance into Ro/amona*s bowet* 

is differently related, Hollingjhed f peaks of it, as " the 

*' common report of the people , that the queene . . . foundf 

€ * hir out by a filken thread, which the king had drawn* 

** after him out cf hir chamber with his foot, and dealt 

•' with hir in fuch Jkarpe and cruell wi/e, that Jhe lived 

" not long after." VoL III p. 115. On the other hand, 

in Speeders Hifl. we are told that the jealous queen found . 

her out " by a clew ofjilke, fallen from Rofamund*s tappe, 

" as Jhee j'ate to take ay re, and fuddenly fleeing from the 

" fi&t of the fear chlr, the end of her Jilke fajlened to her 

'* foot, and the chw ftill unwinding, remained behinde : 

** which the queene followed, 1 ill Jhee had found what Jbe 

" fought, and upon Rofamund Jo vented her fpleene, as the 

c * lady lived net long after.'* 3d Edit. />. 509. Our 

ballad- maker with more ingenuity, and probably as much 

truth, tells us the clue was gained, by Jurprife, ft cm the 

knight, who was left to guard her b.wer. j 

// is obfervable, that none cf the old writers attribute 
Rojamond* s death to poifon, (Stow, above, mentions it meerly 
as a flight covjcclure ) ; they only give us to under/land, that 
the queen treated her harflAy ; with fur hue menaces, <we 
* may jkppnfe, and fbarp expoftulations, which had fuch eflfeel 
in her j'piriis, that fie did not long furvive it. Indeed on 

her 


ANCUNt POEMS. t45 

hit tombftone, as we team from a per/on of credit \, among 
other fine fculptures, ivas engraven the figure of a £up. 
This, which perhaps at firji was an accidental ornament* 
might in after times fuggefi the notion that jhe ivas poifoned ; 
at leafl this conft'ru3ion was put upon it, when the fie tie 
came to he demolijhed after the nunnery was drffblved. The 
account is, that " the tombfione of Rofamund Clifford was 
*' taken up at Godftow 9 and broken in pieces, and that upon 
c * it were interchangeable weavings drawn out anil decked 
" with rofes red and green, and the pielure of the cup, out 
u of which Jhe drank the poifon given her by the queen, 
" carved in ft one.* 9 

Rofantond* s father having been a great benefactor to the 
nunnery of Godfiow, where Jhe had alfo refided herfelf in 
the innocent part of her life, her body was conveyed there, 
dnd buried in the middle of the choir ; in which place it re" 
tnained till the year 1191, when Hugh bijhop of Lincoln 
caufid it to be removed. The fad is recorded by Hoveden, 
a contemporary writer, whofe words are thus tranfiated by 
Stow* €< Hugh bijhop of Lincolne came to the abbey of 
" nunnes, called Godfiow, .... and when he had entred 
" the char eh to pray, he Jaw a tombe in the middle of the 
u quire, covered with a pall offilke, and fet about with 
ct lights ofwaxe: and demanding whofe tombe it war, he 
*' (was ahfwered, that it was the tombe of Rofamond, that 
" vuas fame time lemman to Henry IL .... who for the 
*' Unit of her had done much good to that church. Then 
u quoth the bijhop, take out of this place the harlot, and 
" duty her without the church, left chriftian religion Jhould 
'* grow in contempt, and to the end that, through example of 
*' her, other women being made afraid may beware, and 
1 * keepe themfelves from unlawful! and advouterous company 
*' with mfn." Annals, p. t$g. 

Hiftoyy farther informs us, that king John repaired God- 
fiow nunnery, and endowed it with yearly revenues, " that 

Vol. II, L " theft 

t 

+ Tbo. Allen ofGbct Hall, Oxon. ivbo died In 1632, aged 90. See 
Hearne y $ rambling difcourfe concerning Rofamnd, at the end of CuU 
Neubrig Htfl % you 3./, 739- 


itfi ANCIENT POEMS. 

*' thefe holy 'virgins might releeve with their prayers , the 
" foules of his father king Henrie, and of lady Rofamund 
" there interred" % . • . . In what fituation her remains 
were found at the diffblution of the nunery, we learn from 
L elan a, " Rofamundes tumbe at. Godflowe nunnery was 
" taken up [of] late; it is a Jlone with this inscription, 
•* Tumba Rosamunds. Her hones were clef d' in lede, 
" and withyn that hones were clofyd yn let her. When it 
tc was opened a very fwete fmell came owt of it." See 
Heames difcourfe above quoted \ written in I 7 1 8 ; at which 
time he tells us, were Jlillfeen by the pool at Wood/lock the 
- foundations of a very large building, which were believed to 
be the remains cfRofamond's labyrinth* 

To conclude this (perhaps too prolix) account, Henry bad 
twofons by R of amend, from a computation ofwbofe ages, a 
modern hiflorian has endeavoured to invalidate the received 
flory. Thefe were William Longue-e/pe; (or Long-fword) 
earl of Salijbury, and Geoffrey bi/hop ofLincolne \[. Geoffrey 
was the younger of Rof amends Jons, and yet is f aid to have 
been twenty years dd at the time of his eleQicn to that fee in 
H73. Hence this writer concludes, that king Henry fell in 
love with Rofatnond in 1 149* when in king Stephen s reign 
he came over to be knighted by the king of Scots ; he alfo 
thinks it probable that Henry* s commerce with this lady 
" broke off upon his /narriage with Eleanor [in 1 1 52J and 
" that the young lady,, by a natural effeii of grief and refent- 
ts ment at the defection of her lover, entered on that occafion 
€< into the nunnery ^of Godftowe, where Jhe died probably ber 
"fore the rebellion of Henry* s fons in 1 173." [Carte's hift. 
Pol. I. p. 652.] But let it be obferved, that Henry was hut 
Jixieenyears old when he came over to be knighted ; that he 
Jlaid but eight months in this ijland, and was almofl all the 
time with the king of Scots , that he did not return back to 
England till 1153* the year after his marriage with Eleanor ; 
and that no writer drops the U,ajl hint ofRofamond's having 
ever been abroad with her lover, nor indeed is it probable 
that a boy of fixteen Jhculd venture to carry over a mijlrtfs t§ 

bis 

% Vid. Reign ef Htnry JL in Speed's Bift. writ by Dr. Earcbam% 
D$an of Bocking. | Ajtei wards slrcbbijbop of Tork, temp. Rich. 1. 

\ 


ANCIENTPOEMS. 147 

his mother** court. If all thefe circumftances are conjtdered, 
Mr. Carte's account will be found more incoherent and im* 
probable than that of the old ballad; 'which is alfo coun- 
tenanced by mdft of our old hiftorians. 

Indeed the true date of Geoffrey's birth, and consequently 
of Henry's commerce 'with Rofamond, feems to be befi afcer- 
tained from an ancient manufcript in the Cotton library ; 
'wherein it is thus regiftered of Geoff erey Plant agenet, " Na- 
" tus eft 5 . Hen. II. [li ^9.] Fatlus eft miles 25°. Hen. 
" II. [1179.] Eled. in Epifcop. Lincoln. 28 . Hen. II. 
u [1 182.]." Vid. Chron. de Kirkftall. (Domitian XII.) 
Drake's Hift. of York, p. 422. 

The following ballad is printed from four ancient copies 
in black letter ; tnvo of them in the Pepys library. 

WHEN as king Henry rulde this land, 
The fecond of that name, 
Beiides the queene, he dearly lovde 
A faire and comely dame. 

Moft peerlefse was her beautye founde, t 

Her favour, and her face ; 
A fweeter creature in this worlde 

Could never prince embrace. 

Her crifped lockes like threads of golde 

Appeard to each mans fight ; 10 

Her fparkling eyes, like Orient pearles, 
Did call a heavenlye light. 

The blood within her cryftal cheekes 

Did fuch a colour drive. 
As though the lillye and the rofe . 15 

For mafterfhip did ftrive. 

L 2 Yea 


1 1 


1 


f +g ANCIENT POEMS. 

Yea Rofamonde* fair Rofamoade, 

Her name was called fo, 
•To whom our queene, dame Ellinor, 

Was known a deadlye foe. to 

■ 

The king therefore, for her defence, 

Again ft the furious queene, 
At Woodftocke builded fach a bower, 

The Hke was never feenel 

Moft curioufly that bower was built 25 

Of ftone and timber ftrong, 
An hundered and fifty cjoors 

Did to this bower belong : 

And they (o cunninglye contrived 

With turnings round about, 30 

That none but with a doe of thread. 

Could enter in or out. 

And for his love and ladyes fake, 

That was fo faire and brighte, 
The keeping of this bower be gave 3; 

Unto a valiant knighte. 

But fortune, that doth.often frowne 

Where (he before did fmile, 
The kinges delighte and ladyes joy 

Full foon (hee did beguile : 40 

For 


ANCIENT POEMS. 149 

For why, the kinges ungracious fbnne, 

Whom he did high advance. 
Again ft his father raifcd warm 

Within the rcalme of France* 


But yet before our comelye king ' 45 

The Englifli land forfooke, ' 
OfRofamond, his lady faire, 

His farewelle thus he tooke : 

M My Rofamende, my only Rofe, 

That pleafeft beft mine eye : jo 

The faireft flower in all the workle 

To feed my fatitafye : 

The flower of mine affe&ed heart, 

Whofe fweetnefs doth excelle ; 
My royal Rofe, a thoofaiid times 5; 

I bid thee nowe farewelle ! 

For I mail leave my faireft Bower, 

My fweeteft Rofe, a fpace, 
And crofs the feas to famous France, 

Proud rebelles to abafe. $0 

But yet, my Rofe, be fare thoo'fhalt 

My coming ihortlye fee, 
And in my heart, when hence I am, 

Jle bcare my Rofe with mec.** 

L 3 When 


ijo ANCIENT POEMS. 

When Rofamopd, tbsCt ladye brighte, 65 . 

Did heare the king faye foe, 
The forrowe of her grieved heart 

Her outward iookes did (howe ; . 

And from her cleare and eryftall eyes 
The teares gufht out apace, 7* 

Which like the filver-pearled dewe 
Ranne down* her comely face. 

Her lippes, erfl like the corall redde, 

Did waxe both wan and pale, 
And for the forrow fhe conceivde 75 

Her vitall fpirits faile ) 

And falling down all in a fwoone 

Before king Henryes face, 
Full oft he in his princelye armes 

Her bodye did embrace : So 

And twentye times, with watery eyes, 

He kift her tender cbeeke, 
Untill he had revivde againe 

Her fenfes milde and meeke. 

Why grieves my Rofe, my fweeteft Rofe ? 85 

The king did often fay. 
Be caufe, quoth ftee, to bloodye warm 4 

My lord mull part awaye* 

6 . . Bttt 


1 


ANCIENT POEMS! 151 

But fince your grace on forrayne coaftej 
Amonge your foes unkinde 90 

•- ; Muft goe to hazard life and Iimbe, 
Why (hould I ftaye behinde ? 

Nay rather, let me, like a page, 
Your fworde and target beare ; 
That on my breaft the blowes may Hghte, ' 95 
< Which would offend you there. 

Or lett mee, in your royal tent, 

Prepare your bed at nighte, 
And with fweete baths refrelh your grace, 

At your returne from fighte. 100 

■i,' So 1 your prefence may enjoye 
No toil I will refufe ; 
But wanting you, my life is death ; 
Nay, death lid rather ch ufe ! 

" Content thy felf, my deareft love ; 105 

Thy reft at home fhall bee 
In Englandes fiveet and pleafant ifle ; 

For travell fits ndt thee. 

Faire ladies brooke not bloodye warres ; 

Soft peace their fexe delightes ; 1 10 

* Not rugged campes, but courtlye bowers ; 

Gay feaftes, not cruell fightes.' 

L 4 My 


15* ANCIENT POEMS. 

My Role (hallr&fely here abide, 

With muficke pafle the <laye ; 
Whilft I, amonge the piercing pikes, 1 15 

My foes feekc far awaye. 

My Rofe fhall (hine in pearle, and golde, 

Whilft Jtme in armour dighte ; 
Gay galiiards here my love fhall dance;, 

Whilft I my foes goe fighte. 1^0 

And you, fir Thomas, whom I trufle 

« 

To bee my loves defence ; 
Be careful! of my gallant Role 
When I am parted hence." 

And therewithajl he fetcht a figh, 12c - 

As though his heart would breake ; 

And Rofamonde, for very griefe, 
Not one plaine word could fpeake. 

And at their parting well they mighte 
Iu heart be grieved fore : 1 10 

After that 4aye faire RofamAndft 
The king did fee no more. 

For when his grace h^ad pad the ftas. 

And into France was gone ; 
With envious heart, que^ne I^ilinor, 135 

To Woodftocke came anone. 

A*d 


« 


ANCIENT POEMS, 153 

And forth Die cajles this truftye knighte, 

In an unhappy houre ; 
Who with his clue of twined thread, 

Came from this famous bower. 140 

And when that they had wounded him, 

The queene this thread did gettc, 
And went where ladye Rofamonde 

Was like an angell fette- 

Bat when the queene with ftedfaft eye 145 

Beheld her beauteous face, 
She was amazed in her minde 

At her exceeding grace. 

Caft off from thee thofe robtt, (he (kid, 
That riche and coiUye bee ; 150 

And drinke thou up this deadlye draught. 
Which I have brought to thee. 

Then prefentlye upon her knees 

Sweet Rofamonde did faUe $ 
And pardon of the queene fhe crav'd % 15c 

For her offences all. 

^ Take pitty on. my youthftli yearcs, 

Faire Rofamonde di4 crye ; 
And lett mee. not with poifoa ftrooge 

Enforced bee to dyq. • i6q 

4 I will 


i54 A N C I E N t POEMS. 

I will -renounce my finfull life, 

And in fomc cloyfter bide ; 
Or elfe be banifht, if yoa pleafe, 

To range the world foe wide. 

And for the fault which I have done, 165 

Though I was forc'd theretoe, 
Preferve my life, and punifh mee 

As you thinke meet to doe/' 

* And with thefe words, her Iillie handes 

She wrunge full often there ; 170 

And downe along her lovelye face 
Did trickle many' a teare. 

But nothing could this furious queene 

Therewith appeafed bee ; 
The^cup of deadlye poyfon ftronge, 175 

As (he knelt on her knee, 

Shee gave this comelye dame to drinke ; 

Who tooke it in her hand, 
And from her bended knee arofe, 

And on her feet did (land : 1 80 ] 

And cafttrg up her eyes to heaven, 

Shee did for mercye calle ; 
And drinking up the poifon ftronge, 

tier life (he loft withalk. 

And 


i 


ANCIENT POEMS., 155 

And when that death through everye limbe 

Had fhowde its g^eateft fpiV, igc, 

Her chiefeft foes did plaine confeiTe 
Shee was a glorious wight. 

1 

Her body then they did entomb, 

When life was fled away, 
At Godftowe, neare to Oxford towne, 

As may be feene this day. 190 


VIII. 
QJJEEN ELEANOR'S CONFES'SION. 

" Eleanor, the daughter and heirefs of William duke of 
Guienne, and count ofPoiclou, had been married fixteen years 
to Louis VII. king of France, and had attended him in a 
croifade, which that monarch commanded againfi the infi- 
dels ; but having loft the affections of her hufband, and 
wen fallen under jomefufpicions of gallantry with a handfome 
Saracen, Louis, more delicate than politic, procured a divorce 
from her, and reftored her thoje rich provinces, which by 
her marriage jhe had annexed to the crown of France* The 
young count ofAnjou, afterwards Henry II, king of England, 
tbo* at that time but in his nineteenth year, neither difcou- 
raged by the difpariiy of age, nor by the reports of Eleanor's' 
gallantry, made fuch fuccefsful court Jhip to that princefs, 
that he married herjix weeks after her divorce, and got 
poffejjton of all her dominions as a dewery. A marriage thus 
founded upon intereft was net likely to be very happy : it 


i 5 6 ANCIENT POEMS. 

happened accordingly. Eleanor, who had difgufied her firfi 
hujband by her gallantries, was no lefs offenfive to her Je- 
cvnd bg her jealoujj : thus carrying to extremity , in the 
different parts of her life, every circumftane: of female 
weaknefs. She had feveral fins by Henry , whom Jhe Spi- 
rited up to rebel againfl htm ; and endeavouring to ejcape to 
them difguifed in man 7 s apparel in 1 173>./&* was dif covered 
and thrown into a confinement , which fecms to have conti- 
nued till the death of her hujband in 1 189. She however 
furvived him many years : dying in I J04, in the fixth year 
of the reign of her youngefi Jon, JoT?n" See Hume's Hift. 
j^to. Vol. I* p. 260. 307. Speed, Stow, &c. 

It is needlefs to ob/erve, that the following ballad (given 
from an old printed copy) is altogether fabulous ; whatever 
gallantries Eleanor encouraged in the time of her firfi hufi> 
(> and, none are imputed to her in that of her fecond. 


OU E E N E Elianor was a fickc woman. 
And afraid that fhc fhould dye : 
Then fhe tent for two fryars of France 
To fpeke with her fpeediiye. 

The king cattd downe his nobles all, } 

By one, by two # by three 5 
« Earkmarihall, He goe Arrive the «quecne, 

And thou (halt wend with mee." 

A booae, a. boost ; quoth earl narihaU, 

And fell on his bended knee ; to 

That whatfoever queene Elianor faye f 
No harme thcrof may be?. 


ANCIENT POEMJ. 157 

He pawne my landes, the king then cryd, 

. My fceptre, crownc, and all, 
That whatfoere queen Elianor fayet 15 

No harme thereof {hall fall. 

Do thou pot on a fryars coat, 

And Jlc put on another j 
And we will to queen Elianor go* 

Like fryar and his brother. 20 

Thus both attired then they goe : 

When they came to Whitehall, 
The bells did ring, and the quiriftert fing, 

And the torcnes did Hghtc them all. 

When that they cane before the qaeene *s 

They fell on their bended knee ; 
A boone, a boone, our gracious queene> 

That you fent fo ha&lee. 

Are you two fryars of France,, fte fayd, 

As I fuppofe you bee ? 30 

But if you are two Englifhe fryars, 
You fti all hang on the gailowes tree. 

We are tyo fryars of France, they feyd, 

As you fuppofe we bee, 
We have not been at any mafic 35 

Sith we came from the fea. 

The 


§5* ANCIENT POEMS. 

The firft vile thing that ever I did 
I will to you unfolde ; 
• - Earl marfljall had my maidenhcd, 

Beneath this, cloth of golde* 40 

Thats a vile finne, then fayd the king ; 

May God forgive it thee ! 
Amen, amen* quoth earl marJhall; 

With a heavye heart fpake hee. 

The next vile thing that ever I did, . 45 

To you lie not den ye, 
I m*de a boxe of poyfon ftrong, 

To poifon king Henrye. 

Thats a vile finne* then fayd the king, 
May God forgive it thee ! 50 

Amen, amen, quoth earl marfhaU ; 
And I wifh it fo may bee. 

The next vile thing that ever I did, 

To you I will difcover ; 
I poyfoned fair Rofamonde, 55 

All in fair Woodftocke bower* 

Thats a vile finne, then fayd the king; , . 

May God forgive it thee ! 
Amen, amen, quoth earl marfhaU ; 

And I wifh it fo may bee. \ fa 

Do 


ANCIENT POEMS. 159 

Do you fee yonders little boye, 

A toffing of the balle ? 
That is earl marihalls eldeft fqnne, 

And I love him the bell of all. 


Do you fee yonder? little boye, 6$ 

A catching of the balle ? 
That is king Henryes youngeft fonne, 

And I love him the w.orft of all. 

His head is fafhyond like a bull ; 

His nofe is like a bo are. 70 

No matter for that, king Henrye cryd, 

I love him the better therfore. 

The. king pulled off his fryars coate, 

A nd appeared all in redde : 
She ftirieked, and cryd, and wrung her hands, 75 

And fayd me was betray de. 

The king lookt over his left moulder, 

And a grimroe look looked hee, 
Earl marfhall, he fayd, but for my oathc, 

Or hanged thou fhouldft bee. So 


V. 63, 67. She means that the eldefi of tbefe /wo was By tb* carl 
marjball, tbeyoungefi by tbt king, 

IX. THE 




160 ANCIENT POEMSv 


IX. 
THE STURDY ROCK. 

This poem, fubfcribed M. T* [perhaps rnvettedly for 
Y. Marjball*] is preferved in The Paradife of daintie 
devifes, quoted above in page 138— "The two firft ftanscas 
may be found accompanied vSith Mufical notes iH " An 
hovjres recreation in muficke, tsfc . by Richard Alifon, Land* 
1606. 4/0. .*" ufually bound up with £ or 4 fets of " Ma- 
drigals fet to mujtc by Tho, Weelkes, Lond. 1597. 1600. 
1608, 4/0.' * One ofthefe Madrigals is fo comphat an exam- 
ple of the Bathos, that I cannot forbear preferring it to the 
reader* 

Tbule, the period of cofmographie, 

;Doth vaunt of Hecla, vjhofe fidphurhus s fre 

Doth melt the frozen clime , and tha e w tbejkie, 
Trinacrian AStna's flames afcend not bier : 

Tbefe things feme wondrous, yet more vuondrous T, 

IVhofe heart ivitbfeare dothfreeze % with love doth fry- 

7*he Andelufian merchant, that returnes 

Laden ivitb cutchinele and china difhes* 
Reports in Spaine, honv Jtrangely Fogo burner 

Amidtft an ocean full rf fyingfifhes : 
Thefe things feeme wondrous, yet more ivondrous I, 
Whofe heart vjithfeare doth freeze, with love doth fry \ 

Mr. Weelkes feems to have been of opinion ivith many of his 
brethren of later times, that nonfenfe vjas befl adapted to 
difplay the povjers of mufical compofure* 

THE 

* Vid.Athtn. Oxon. p, 15*, 316. 


I 


I 


/ 


ANCIENT POEMS. 161 

TH £ fturdy rock for all his ftrength 
By raging feas is rent in twainc : 
The marble ftone is pearft at length, 
With little drops of drizling rain : 
The oxc doth ytdd vnto die yoke, ] 

The fteele obeyeth the hammer ftroke. 

The (lately flagge, that feemes fo ftoot, 

By yalping hounds at bay is fet : 
The fwifteft bird, that flies about, 

Is caught at length in fowlers net: |4 

The greateft &&> in deepeft brooke, 
Is (bone deceived by fubtill hooke. 

Yea mail hhn&lfe, unto whofe will 

All things are bounden to obey, 
For all his wit and worthie flcill, 1 j 

Doth fade at length, and fall away. 
There is nothing but time doeth wafte ; 
The heavens, the earth con fume at laft. 

But vertue fits triumphing Hill 

Upon the throne of glorious fame : 20 

Though fpitef ul death mans body kill, 

Yet hurts he. not his vertuous name : 
By life or death what fo betides, 
The date of vertue never Aides, 

• 

Vol. II. M X. THE 


> i 

1 


i6i A N C I E NT POEMS. 


THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BEDNALL- 

GREEN. 

This popular old ballad was 'written in the reign of Eli - 
xabetb, as appears not only from -tot. 23. 'where the arms 
of England are tailed the " Queenes armes ;" hut from its 
tune's being quoted in other old pieces, written in her time* 
See the ballad o» Mary Ambree in this volume. — The 
late Mr, Guthrie affujred the Editor, that fie had for- 
merly feen another old fong on the fame fubjeQ, compofed in a. 
different meafurefrom this ; which was truly beautiful, if ' 
we may judge from the only ftanxa he remembered : in this 
it was /aid of the old beggar 9 that " down his neck 

■ his reverend lockes 

In comelye curies did wave ; 
And on his aged temples grewe 

The bloflbmes of the grave." 

• 

The following ballad is chiefly given from the Editor's 
folio MS* compared with two ancient printed copies : the 
concluding ft anscas, nvhich contain the old Beggar 9 s difcovery 
of^bimfelf, are not however given from any ofthefe, being 
very different from tbofe of the vulgar ballad. They were 
communicated to the Editor in manufcript ; but he will not 
anfwer for their being genuine : he rather thinks them the 
modern production ofjome perfon, who was offended at the 
abfurdities and inconfiftencies, which fo. remarkably pre- 
vailed in this part ofthefong, as it ftood before : whereas 
by the alteration of a few lines, the ftory is rendered much 
more affeSing, and is reconciled to probability and true hif 
tory* For this informs us, that at the decifive battle of 

Mvejham, 


ANCIENT POEMS. 163 

Eve/ham, (fought Aug. 4. I165.J nxjhen Simon de Mont- 
fort, the great earl of Leicefter, <was Jlain at the head of 
the barms, his eldeft Jon Henry fell by his fide 9 and in confe- 
euenee of that defeat, his whole family funk for ever, the 
king beft&wing their great honours and poffejfions on his fe- 
condfon Edmund earl of Lancafler. 

Part the First. 

ITT was a blind beggar, had long loll his fight, 
He had a fa ire daughter of bevvty moil bright; 
And many a gallant brave fuiter had (bee, 
For none was foe comelye as pretty Befsee. 

And though fhee was of favor mod faire, 5 

Yett feeing fhee was but a blinde beggars heyre, 
Of ancyent houfe keepers defpifed was fhee, 
Whofe fonnes came as fuitors to pretty Befsee. 

Wherefore in great forrow faire Befsy did fay, 
Good father, and mother, let me goe away 10 

To feeke out my fortune, whatever itt bee* 
Her fuite then they granted to prettye Befsee. 

1 

Then Befsy, that was of bewtye foe bright, 
All cladd in gray ruflett, and late in the night 
From father and mother alone parted fhee ; 15 

Who fighed and fobbed for prettye Befsee. 

Shee went till ihee came to Stratford-le-Bowe ; 
Then knew fhee not whither, nor which way to goe : 
With teares fhee lamented her hard deftinic, 
So fadd and fo heavy was prettye Befsee. 20 

r M 2 She 


1*4 ". • A N C 1 1 N T POEMS. 

She kept on her journey untill it was day, 
And went unto Stamford along the hye way ; 
Where at the Queene* armes entertained wu feee : 
So fag-e and wel favoured was prettye Beftee. 

Shee had not beene there a month to an end, " 2$ 
But mafter atfdf miftres and all was her friend : 
And every brave gallant, that once did her fee, 
Was ftrait-way enamourd of prettye Befsee. 

Great gifts they did fend her of filver and gold, 
And in their fongs daylye her love was extold ; 30 
Her beautye was blazed in every degree ; 
See faire and foe comelye was prettye Be/see. 

The yong men of Rumford in her had their joy ; 
Shee (hewd herfelf courteous, and modeiHye coye; 
And at her commandment Hill wold they bee ; 35 

Soe faire and foe comelye was pretty Befsee. 

Foure fuitors att once unto her did goe ; 

They craved her favor, but (till fliee fayd noe; 

I wold not wiih gendes to marry with mee. 

Vett ever they honoured prettye Befsee. 4° 

The firfl: of them was a gallant yong knight, 
And he came unto her difguifde in the night : 
The (econd a genrfeiaa* of good degree, 
Who wooed and fued for prettye Befsee. 

A mer- 


' 


J 


A N C I E N T POEMS. 165 

A merchant of London, whole wealth was sot fmall, 4$ 
He was the third futter, and proper withall : 
Her matters own Tonne the fourth man malt bee. 
Who fwore he wold dye for prettye Befsee 

And, if thou wilt marry with mee, quoth the knight, 
lie make thee a ladye with joy and delight ; 50 

My hart's fo inthralled by thy bewtie, 
That foone I ihall dye for prettye Be&ee. 

The gentleman fayd, Come, marry with mee, 

As fine as a ladye my Be&y fhal bee : 

My life is diftrefted : O heare me, quoth hee ; 55 

And grant me thy love, roy prettye Befsee. 

Let me bee thy ho (hand, the merchant could fay, 
Thou {halt live in London both gallant and gay ; 
My (hippes fhatl bring home rych jewels for thee, 
And I will for ever love prettye Be(see. 60 

Then Befly (hee fighed, and thus (hee did fay, 
My father and mother I meane to obey ; 
Firft gett their good will, and be faithfull to mee, 
And yon (hall enjoy? your prettye Befsee. 

To every one this anfwer (hee made, 65 

Wherfore nnto her they joy full ye fayd, 

This thing to fulfill wee all doe agree ; 

$ux where dwells thy father, my prettye Befsee ? 

M 3 My 


i66 .ANCIENT POEMS. 

I 

t 

My father, (he fayd, is foone to be feene : 

The fecly blind beggar of Bednall-greene, 70 

That daylye fits begging for charitie, 

He is the good father of prettye Befsee. 

His markes and his tokens are k no wen very well ; 
He always is led with a dogg and a bell : 
A feely olde man God knoweth is hee, 75 

Yett hee is the father of prettye Befsee. 

Nay then, quoth the merchant, thou art not for mee ; 
Nor, qnoth the innholder, my wiffe fhalt thou bee : 
I iothe, fayd the gentle, a beggars degree, 
And therefore, adewe, my prettye Befsee I 80 

Why then, quoth the knight, hap better or worfe, 
I weighe not true love by the weight of the purfse, 
And bewtye is bewtye in every degree ; 
Then welcome unto mee, my prettye Befsee* 

■ 

With thee to thy father forthwith I will goe. 85 

Nay foft, quoth his kinfmen* it muft not be foe ; 
A poor beggars daughter noe lad ye ihal bee, 
Then take thy adew of prettye Befsee. 

* 
But foone after this, by breake of the day 
The knight had from Rumford ftole Befly away. 90 
The yonge men of Rumford, as thicke as might bee, 
Rode after to feitch againe prettye Befsee. 

As 


A N C I E NT POEMS. 167 

As fwifte as the winde to ryde they were feene, 
Untill they came neare unto Bednall-greene ; 
And as the knight lighted moil curteouflie, 95 

They all fought againft him for prettye Befsee. 

But refca came fpeedilye over the plaine, 

Or elfe the young knight for his love had beene flaine. 

This fray being ended, then ffcraitway he fee 

His kinfmen come rayling at prettye Befsee. 100 

Then fpake the blind beggar, Although I be poore, 
Yett rayle not againft my child at my owne door : 
Thbugh fhee be not decked in velvett and pearle, 
Yett I will dropp angells with you for my girle. 

And then, if my gold may better her birthe, 105 

And equall the gold that you lay on the earth, 
Then neyther rayle nor grudge you to fee 
The blind beggars daughter a lady to bee. 

But firft you fhall promife, and have itt well knowne, 
The gold that you drop fhall all be your owne, no 
With that they replyed, Contented bee wee. 
Then here's, quoth the beggar, for prettye Befsee. 

With that an angell he call on the ground, 
And dropped in angels full three thoufand pound ; 
And oftentimes it was proved moft plaine, 115 

For the gentlemens one the beggar dropt twayne : 

M4 See 


x68 ANCIENT POIMS, 

Soe that the place, wherein they did £tt, 

With gold it was covered every whin. 

The gentlemen then having dropt all their ftore, 

Sayd, Now, beggar, hold* lor we have no more. | 

Thou hail fulfilled thy promife aright. 
Then marry my girle, quoth he to the knight ; 
And heere, added hee, I wiH now throwe you downe 
A hundred pounds more to buy her a gowns. 

The gentlemen all, that this treafiire had feene, iz$ 
Admired the beggar of BcdnaU-greene : 
And all thofe, that were her fuitors before, 
Their flefhe for very anger they tore. 

Thus was faire Beffy a match for the knight. 

And then made a ladye in others defpite : 13Q 

A fairer ladye there never was feene, 

Than the Wind beggar6 daughter of BednalL-greene, 

But of their fumptuous marriage and feaft, 
What brave lords and knights thither were preft, 
The second tit * fhall fet forth to your fight 135 
With marvellous pleafure, and wifhed delight. 


* The word fit, for part, often occurs in our ancient 

hallads and metrical romances ; which being divided into 

everal parts for the convenience of Jinging them at public 

entertainments, nvere in the intervals of tb* foajL fung by 

TITS, 


ANCIENT POEMS. 169 

fits, or intermiffions. So Putt inborn in his Art of Englijb 
Poefie, 1589, /ays u the Epithalamii was divided by 
*' breaches into three partes to ferve /or-tbree /enteral pits, 
€t or times to be Jung." p. 41.— , 

From the fame writer we learn fome curious particular* 
relative to the ft ate of ' bailad-fenging in that age, that will 
throw light on the prefent fubjecl : /peaking of the quick re- 
turns of one manner of tune in the Jhort mea/ures u/ed by 
common rhymers ; theje, he /ays, "glut the care, unle/s it be 
" in /mall and popular tnufeckes, Jung by thefe Cantabanqui, 
fi upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none 
u other audience then boys or countrey fello*wes,*that pa/se by 
*' them in theftreete ; or el/e by b l i n d h a r pb r s, w /uck 
" like taverne Minftrels, that give a fit of mirth for a 
" groat, • . their matter being for the moft part ftories oj 
old time, as the tale of Sir Top as, the report es o/Bevis of 
Southampton, Guy o/Warwicke, Adam Bell and Clymme 
if of the C lough, andfuch other old romances or biftorical 
rimes, made purpo/ely for recreation of the common people at 
Chriftmaffe m dinners and brideales, and in taverne s and 
alehoufes, and /uck other places ofba/e rejbrte." .p. 69. 
This Jpecies of entertainment, which /eems to have been 
handed down from the ancient bards, was in the time of 
Puttenham falling apace into negled ;■ but that it was not, 
even then, wholly excluded more genteel affemblies, he gives 
us room to infer from another pa£age, *' We our/elves, /aye 
this courtly § writer, ba/ue written /or plea/ure a little 
brief romance y or biftorical ditty in the Englijh tong of 
the IJle 0/ Great Britaine in Jhort and long meeires, and 
by breaches or divijions [i. e. fits,] to be more com" 
modioujly Jung to the harpe in places 0/ a/femhly, where 
the company Jhal be defirous to heare of, old adven- 
tures, and valiaunces of noble knights in times pafl, as are 

"thofe 


^ He vvos one of S^ Elizabeth's gent* penfi oners, at a time when the 
who I' band corpjted of men of diftinguijbed birth end fortune* Vid* 
JUh % Ox. 






a 
«< 

i« 
tt 


170 ANCIENT POEMS. 




thofe of king Arthur and bis knights of the Round table. 
Sir Beyys of Southampton, Guy of fVaruuicke, and others 
•« liAi." p. 33. 

In more ancient times no grand fcene offeftivity wat com- 
phot without one of theft reciters to entertain the company 
with feats of arms, and tales of 'knighthood, or, as one of 
theft \ old minfirels fays, in the beginning of an ancient ra- 
mance in the Editor 'j folio MS. 




When meate and drinke is great plenty e 9 
And lords and ladyes fill wil bee, 
" And fit t and f dace* ly the ; * Perhaps 

" Then ittis time for mee to fpeake '* blytbeS* 

Of keene knightes, and kempts great, 
Such carping for to kytbe" 


it 


«« 


If we confider that a groat in the age of Elizabeth 
was more than equivalent to a fhilling now, we Jhallfind 
that the old harpers were even then,- 'when their art was on 
the decline, upon afar more reputable footing than the ballad- 
fingers of our time. The netting of one fuch ballad as this 
of the Beggar of Bednal green, in II parts, was rewarded 
'with half a crown of our money. And that they made a 
very rtjpeBablt appearance, we may learn from the drej's of 
the old beggar, in the following ft anxas, wer. 34, 'where he 
tomes into company in the habit and character of one of thefe 
minfirels, being not known to be the bride* s father, till after 
her fpeecb, *ver. 63. The exordium of his fong, and his 
claiming a groat for his reward, *v. ;6, are peculiarly 
charaderiftic of that proftffton. — Moji of the old ballads be- 
gin in a pompous manner, in order to captivate the attention 
of the audience, and induce them to purchafe a recital of the 
fong : and they feldom conclude the first part without large 
fromifes of ft ill greater entertainment in the second. This 
was a neceffary piece of art to incline the hearers to be at the 
expend of afecond groaf i~worth -~Many of the old romances 
extend to eight or nine fits, which would afford a confider- 
able profit to the reciter* 


ANCIENT POEMS; i 7 f 

y# return U the word fit ; it Jiems at firfi to have pe- 
culiarly fignified the paufe f or breatking-ttme bet-ween the 
/enteral parts, (anfwering to Passus in the vifions of 
Pierce Plowman) ; thus in the old poem of John thi 
Reeve, the firfi part ends with this line, 


<< 


The firfi fitt here find wee :" 


/• e. here we come to the firfi paufe or intermijjion *. — By de-> 
grees it came tofignify the whole part or divifion preceding 
the paufe 5 and this fenfe it had obtained fo early as the time 
of Chanter : who thus concludes the Jrft part of his rhyme 
of Sir Thopas (writ in ridicule of the old ballad romances) 

" ho! lordis mine, here it a fitt ; 
If ye wo 11 any more of it, 
To tell it wo 11 1 fonde." 




• See alfo above, Vol, 7. p. 9. and the dwifion, In N*. II. cf the 
fame nol. Ihe reeuier will find further remarks en the word FlT at 

the end of this V$lume t and in the Ghjjary to V»l> h &c. 

Part the Second. 

1 

WITHIN a gorgeous palace moft brave, 
Adorned with all the coft they colde have, . N 
This wedding was kept moft fumptuouflie, 
And all tor the creditt of prettye Beffee. 

All kind of dainties,, and delicates fweete $ 

Were bought for their banquet, as it was meete ; 
Partridge, and plover, and venifon moft free, 
Againft the brave wedding of pretty Beffee. 

Thi» 


17* 'ANCIENT POEMS. 

This wedding through England was fpread by report, 
So that a great number therto did refort ' 10 

Of nobles and gentles in every degree ; 
And all for the fame of pretty e Beflee. 

To church then went this gallant young knight ; 
His bride followed after, an angell moil bright, 
With troopes of ladyes, the like nere was feene • 1 5 
That went with fweete BefTy of Bednall-greene. 

This marry age being folemnized then, 

With muficke performed by the ikilfulleft men, 

The nobles and gentles fate downe at that tyde, 

Each one admiring the beautifull bryde. 20 

Now, after the fumpf uous dinner was done, 

To talke, and to reafon- a number begunn : 

They talkt of the blind beggars daughter moft bright, 

And what with his daughter he gave to the knight. 

Then fpake the nobles, " Much marveil have wee* 25 
This jolly blind beggar we cannot here fee." 
My lords, quoth the bride, my father's fo bafe, 
He is loth with his prefence thefe Hates to difgrace. 

•• The prayfe of a woman in queuyon to bringe 
Before her own face, were a flattering thinge ; 3a 

Bj3t wee thinke thy father's bafenefs, quoth they, 
Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye." 

* They 


ANCIENT POEMS. 173 

They had no fooner thefe plea fa nt words fpoke, 
But in copes the beggar clad in a filke cloke ; 
A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee, 35 

And now a muiicyan forfooth he wold bee. 

He had a dainty e late under his arrae, 

He touched the ltrings, which made fuch a charme, 

Saies, Pleafe you to heare any muficke of mee. 

He fing you a fong of prettye Befiee. 40 

With that his lute he twanged ftraigbtway, 
And thereon begann mod fweetlye to play ; 
And after that leflbn s were playd two or tl^ree, 
He ftrayn'd out this fong mod delicatelie. , 


• 
* 


«' A poore beggars daughter did dwell on a greene, 45 
" Who for her fairenefle migb^well be a queene : 
41 A blithe bonny latie, and a dainty was fhee, 
*' And many one called her prettye Bcflee. 

*' Her. father he had noe goods, nor noe land, 
4< But beggd for a penny all day with his hand ; 50 
*' And yettto her marriage he gave thoufands three, 
*' And ffcill he hath fomewhat for prettye BeiTee. 

** And if any one here her birth doe difdaine, 
" Her father is ready, with might and with maine, 
4< To prove ihee is come of noble degree : j j 

*• Therfore never flout at prettye BeiTee," 

With 


i 7 4 ANCIENT PO E-M S. 

With that the lords and the company round 

With hearty laughter were readye to fwound ; 

At iaft fayd the lords. Full well wee may fee, 

The bride and the beggar's beholden to thee. - 60 

On this the bride all blufhing did rife, 
The pearlie dropps (landing within her faire eyes, 
O pardon my father, grave nob v les, quoth fhee, 
that throughe blind afFe&ion thus doteth on mee. 

If this be thy father, the nobles did'fay^ 65 

Well may he be proud of this happy day ; 
Yett by his countenance well may we fee, 
His birth and his fortune did never agree : 

And therfore, blind man, we pray thee bewray, 
(And looke that the truth thou to us doe fay) 7° 

Thy birth and thy parentage, what it may bee ; 
For the love that thou beareft to prettye Be flee. 

'* Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one, 
*' One fong more to firig, and then I have done ; 
" And if that itt may not winn good report, 75 

" Then do npt give me a groat for my fport. 

*' [Sir Simon de Montfort my fubjeft flial bee $ 
" Once chiefe of all the great barons was hee, 
" Yet fortune fo cruelle this lorde did abafe, 
" Now lofte and forgotten are hee and his race. 80 

" When 


s 


ANCIENT POEMS. 175 

"When the barons in armes did king Henrye oppofe, 
*' Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chofe ; 
" A leader of courage undaunted was hee, 
" And oft-times he iqade their enemyes flee* 

" At length in the battle on Evefhame plaine 85 

'* The barons were routed, and Montfort was flaine ; 
" Mofte fatall that battel did prove unto thee, 
" Thoughe thou waft not borne then, my prettye Beflee! 




Along with the nobles, that fell at that tyde, 

His eldelt fon Henrye, who fought by his fide, 90 

4< Was fellde by a blowe, he receivde in the fight ! 

" A blowe that deprivde him for ever of fight., 

'• Among the dead bodyes all lifelefTe he laye, 

••' Till evening drewe on of the following daye, 

*' When by a yong ladye difcoverd was hee ; 95 

" And this was thy mother, my prettye BefTee ! 

c< A barons faire daughter ftept forth in the nighte 
'• To' fearch for her father, who fell in the fight, 
*' And feeing yonir Montfort, where gafping he laye, 
*' Was moved' with pitye, and brought him awaye. 100 


cc 

*4 


In fecrette Ihe nurft him, and fwaged his paine, 
White he throughe therealme was beleevd to be flaine : 
u At lengtlie his faire bride ihe confented to bee, 
" And ro*de him glad father of prettye Beffte. 

5 •• And 


176 ANCIENT POEMS. 

4 

" And bowc leftoure fees oure lives (holde betraye, ttfi 
" We clothed oorfelves in beggar* array e ; 
*' Her jewelles ihee folde^ and hither came wee : 
" All our comfort and care was our prettye BeiTee.] 

" And here have we lived in fortunes deipite, 109 

" Thoughe meane, yet contented with humble delighfe ; 

" Thus many longe winters nowe have I beene 

«• The fillye biiade beggar of Bednall -greene. 

" And here, noble lerdes, is ended the fonge 
" Of one, that once to your own ranke did belong; 
" And tbas have you learned a fecrette from mte, 1 15 
•• That ne'er had beene knowne, but for prettye Beflee." 

Now when the faire companye everye one, 

Had heard the Grange tale in the fong he had ihowfte, 

They all were amazed, as well they might bee, 

Both at the blinde beggar, and prettye BeiTee. 120 

With that the fweete maiden they all did embrace, 
Saying, Sure thou art come of an honourable race, 
Thy father likewife is of noble degree, 
And thou art right worthy a ladye to bee. 

Thus was the feaft ended with joye, and delighte, 12 J 
A biidegroome moft happye then was the yqng kaigbte, 
In joye and felicitie long Lived hee, 
All with his faire ladye* the prettye BeiTee. • 


• 


XI. FANCY 


ANCIENT POEMS, xyf 


« • 


FANCY AND DESIRE. 

t 

By the Earl of Oxford. 

r 

Ed-ward Vert Earl of Oxford was in high fame for his 
poetical talents in the reign of Elizabeth : perhaps , it is no 
injury tA b* s reputation that few of bis compofitions are pre* 
fervedfor the infpeftion of impartial pofterity. To gratify 
curi&Jity, <we ba<ve iuferted a fonnet of bis , which is quoted 
with great encomiums for its " excellencie and w/7," in Fut- 
tenham's Arte of Eng. Poefie *, and found intire in the Gar- 
land of Good- will : A few more of his fonnet s ( diftinguijhed 
by the initial letters E. O.J may befeen in the Paradife of 
Daintie Dwifes. One of thefe is intitled, "The Complaint 
"ofa Lower, 'wearing blade and tawhie." The only lines 
in it worth notice are thefe, 

A crowne of baie* ihalLthat man ' beare' 

Who triumphs over me ; 
For black and tawnie will I weare, 

Which mourning colours be. 

4, 

We find in HalPs Chronicle, that when S^ Catharine of 
Arragon dyed Jan. 8. 1536 ; " Queen Anne [Sullen] wan 
" yell OWE for the mourning" And when this unfortunate 
princefs loft her bead May 19, the fame year, " on the afcen* 
" cion day following, the kyngfor mourning ware whyte." 
FoL zzy, 228. 

Vol, II. N Edward, 

* L*nd» 1589./, 172. 


Edward, <tvbo was the XVIlth earl of Oxford of the 
family of Vere> fucreeded his father in his title and honours 
in 1 $6 2 , and died an aged man in 1 604. See Mr, Walpole'l 
Noble Authors. Ath. Ox. 

COME hither (hepherd's fwayne : 
«« Sir,. wHat do y<*u* require*" 
I prayc thee, fhewe to me thy name. 
u M^ name is FdttDDESiitEi" 1 - 


When, wert thpn borne, Defire .? $. 

*< In ppmpe and f*yma of mayuV 
By whomv fweet boy, wertthoa bfgottf 

" B)r foiid Conceit men fay." 

Tell me, who waa thy nurfo J 

" Freih Youth in fugredJo3r. ,> id* 

What was thy meate and dayly foods ? 

" Sad lighes with grea^annay*" 

What hadft thtoo then to drinkef 

" Unf^voury lovers teares." 
What cradle wert thou rocked in,? ic 

'* In hope deroydfc of Jeaifefe" 

What luUd thee then, afleepe ? 

" Swee,t^ fpee,cji, which . like>, roc. be&? 
T*ll me, where is> thy dwelBng pkert 

" In gentle haras I reft:?' , 20 

What 


A c tt' C I< £ N T f O E M S. 179 

Whit tkit^d<it^pl«rie'thebihoft? , 

Whbni &tt tnW.th&kV to tie Ay ffce f 
" Dtflayn of my good wilie." 

1 

Birth' eaiitpiinfh difpleaTe' ? 25 

"' Vea, furelye, many one." 
Where <k>th Deik* deKghte to live ? 

«« Htf Itfve* t& Hve atorie." 

Doth either tyme or age 

Bfixlge him vtato decay'*? J#' 

■«»' Na, iio, Ikftre ltofft Kvcs and cfyefr 

" Ten thbofand times a daye< 

Then, fond Defire, farewelle, 

*f no'u art no mate for rifee* j; 
Ifholde be lothe, me{hinke v s, to dwell* 35 

With fuch a one an thee. 


JDL 

SIR ANDlW tA-tti&S: 

1 cannot give a Better relation of thi fad t which is th$ 
fuhjeB of tee following Ballad, than in ait extract from the 
late Mr* Guthrie's Peerage j 'which <was begun upon a <very 
tie gant plan, hut never finiflwd. Voi % /. 4 J*. /, ^a. 

M *' " Tin 


180 ANCIENT, POEM 5. 

€t The tranjatfion which did the great eft honour to the earl 
of Surrey* and bis family at this time [A. D. 1511*] 
was their behaviour in the cafe of Barton f a Scotch fea~ 
officer. This gentleman' s father having fuffered by fea from 
the Portuguese, he had obtained Utters of marque for his 
twofons to make reprisals upon the fubjecls of Portugal It 
is fxtremely probable, that- the court of Scotland granted 
thefe letters <with no. very honefi intention. The council 
board of England, at which the earl of Surrey held the 
chief place, ivas daily peftered with complaints from the 
failors and merchants, that Barton, who was called Sir 
Andrew Barton, under pretence offearching for Portuguese 
good 1, interrupted the Englijh navigation, Henry's Situa- 
tion at that time rendered him backward from breaking with 
Scotland, fo that their complaints were but coldly received. 
The earl of Surrey, however* could not fmother his indig- 
nation, but gallantly declared at the council board, that 
•while he had an eftate that could furnijh out a Jhip, or a 
Jon that vitas capable of commanding one, the narrow feas 
Jhould not be infejled, 

" Sir Andrew Barton, who commanded the two Scotch 
Jbips, had the reputation of being one of the ableft fea officers 
of his time. By his depredations, be had amaffed great 
wealth, and hisjhips were very richly laden.' Henry, not- 
witbftanding his fituation, could not refufe the generous offer 
made by the earl of Surrey. Two Jbips were immediately fitted 
out, and put to fea with letters of marque, under his two 
fons, Sir Thomas f and Sir Edward Howard. After en- 
countering a great deal of foul weather, Sir Thomas came 
up with the Lion, which was commanded by Sir Andrew 
Barton in perfon ; and Sir Edward came up with the Union, 
Barton's other Jhip, [called by Hall, the bark of Scotland.] 
The engagement which enfued was extremely obftinate on both 
fides ; but at laft the fortune of the Howards prevailed. Sir 
Andrew was killed fighting bravely 9 and encouraging his 

men 

* jfftervctreh created Duke of Norfolk. . 

"f Catted by old bijlorians lord Howard, afterwards created earl of 
Surrey in bis father's life-time. 


V 


ANCIENT POEMS. 181 

men with bis wbiftk, to bold out to the loft ; and tbe two 
Scotch Jbips. with tbtir crews, were carried into tbe river 
Thames, [Jug. 2. 1 5 1 1 .] 

" This exploit bad tbe more merit , as 'tbe two Englijh 
commanders were in a manner volunteers in tbeferviee, by 
their father's order. But it feems to have laid tbe founda- 
tion of Sir Edwara^s fortune ;for on tbe ytb of April 1512, 
tbe king conftituted bint (according to Dugdale) admiral of 
England, Wales, &c. 

" King James € injtfted* upon fatisfaclion for tbe deatbof 
Barton, and capture ofhisjhip : € tho 1 Henry had generoujly 
difmiffed tbe crews, and even agreed that tbe parties accufed 
might appear in bis courts of admiralty by their attornies, 
to vindicate them/elves,' 9 This affair was in a great mea* 
fare tbe caufe of the battle ofFlodden, in which James IF* 
loft bis life. 

IN the following ballad will be found perhaps Jome few 
deviations from tbe truth of biftory : to atone for whicfy it 
bos probably recorded many leffer faffs, which biftory hath 
not condefcended to relate. I take many of the little circum- 
Jiances oftheftory to be real, becaufe I find one of tbe moft 
unlikely to be not very remote from tbe truth. . In Pt. 2. v. 
156. it is J aid, that England had before " but two Jbips of 
war.* 9 Now /^ great Harxy had been built for feven 
years before, viz. in 1504: which " was properly fpeak- 
'* ing the firft Jbip in tbe Englijh navy. Before this period, 
*' when tbe prince wanted a fleet, be bad no other expedient 
" but hiring Jbips from the merchants." Hume. 

¥be following copy (which is given from the Editor's folio 
MS. and feems to have been written early in the reign of 
Elizabeth, if not before, J will be found greatly Juperior to the 
vulgar ballad, which is evidently modernized and abridged 
from it* Some few deficiencies are however fupplied from a 
black-letter copy of tbe latter in the Pepys collecJUn. 


N3 ' THE 


T.na fi.isr Pji*i. 

* TT7HEN Flora with yer/r^gr^nt gpwe^ 

7y * *e4«fct;*h$>«tf* fo &U9 *<u4 gft^<? 9 
■f And Neptune with hu daintye (bowers 
• Qm? k\o ppfcn t $p fnonjhe of ^aye V 

&W .tfcftflP 3P*P # £&? >^ <tf«St | 

Over the river of Thames paftJiee; 

Whep eighty .mexcjiants of JL^pndon came, 

M O yee t are welcome, rich merchants ; 

Good faylors, welcome |injto mee." ^o 

They fwore by the rood, they were fayjors goody 

But jrfck ,mf ofca^ts ^y ,c^e «&&? • 
f * To France nor Fja&4e*s dare we pafs ; 

Ijtor Bordeaux voyage dare we fare ; 

\Who rabbi us of our natthaivt waoe,^ 

•t _• 

Aftd^voxe by rircltf*^ llb^^fMfltff c£m*gfct* 
f • I thought 'he had not been in *tlnt wqrid, 

T^e -me^cjia^s ftg^, ^d &^, #1^.! 

And thus t^cy di^L their anjiwer frame^ 
JSee ^s a proud Sc ott, that r$bbs on the /eas f 

* Anil .& £«4wsp ¥»' # fe** wwr 

The 

• JYojw /^r pr, copy. 


The king Utok* over *iis ieft ihbirldcc, , 25 

And ab angry c look 'then ^ odko d^ei 
M ffave Inwsr % lorde in *U my realine, 

Will fetch yttn wiytor unto vice?" 
Yea, that dare 1; laid Howard fay as? 

"Veto, that <b» & with 'heart *n*1 iihtrtl ; 30 

If k please yotlr grace to gire arc leave, 

Myfeife 1M1I toe tke only man. 

Thou *rt fea t yocg ; the Jcihfc ae^ljned : 
Yond' Scoitfoania a-awbred taattye ft ^yeAre, 

" TVffft me, «iy ftege, fie ratafee iiim cjtfarfe 35 
Or be&re my prince I wiH feeiter aippeare." v 

Then bowenttgft and g*a\nm fchoQ fltah tvavie, ' 
And chafe toem oyer m^ mime fo fcete j 

Befides-gGodinsrtaer*, and 4ti*pp»lxiyp6, 
' To £iii4e the great toipp ion th* fea. 40 

The fiHt man, that lord ffoward chb$, 

Was the afekft f turner in all the rea'U, 
Though* he was threescore yeerps and ten : 

Good ^Peter.Bitaoh way his name. 
Peter, fayd be* I tntaft -to the fea, 45 

To bring home a tray tor Uve or dead I 
Before Ail others I hare chofen thee,; 

pf a hundred gtinflers 10 be hfead. 

N4 If 


iB 4 ANCIENT POEMS. 

If yoo, my lord, have chofen me 

Of a hundred gunners to be head, 50 

Then hang me up on your maine-maft tree, 

If I miiTe my marke one (hilling bread f. 
, My lord then chofe a boWeman rare, 

• Whofe adlive hands had gained fame V 
In Yorkftiire he was a gentleman borne, 55 

And William Horfeley was his name. 

Horfeley, fayd he, I mod with fpeede 

Go feeke a traytor on the fea, 1 

And now of a hundred bowemen brave 

To be the head I have chofen thee. 60 

If you, quoth hee, have chofen mee 

Of a hundred bowemen to be head ; 
On. your maine-maft lie hanged bee, 

If I mifs twelvefcore one penny bread t. 

With pikes and gunnes, and bowemen bold, (5 

The noble Howard is gone to the fea ;. 
With a valyant heart and a pleafant cheare, 

Out at Thames mouth fay led he. 
And days he fcant had fay led three, . 

Upon the ' voyage', he tooke in hand, 70 

But there he met with a noble (hipp, 

And (toutly made it (lay and (land. 


Thoa 


«j" jin old Eng. word for Breadth, 
* Pn cofy* 


ANCIENT' P. OEMS. 1&5 

1 

Tfaoo muft tell me, lord Howard fayes, 

Now who thou art, and what's thy name ; 
And ihewe me where thy dwelling is : 75 

And whither bound, and whence thon came. 
My name is Henry Hunt, quoth hee 

With a heavye heart, and a carefull mind ; 
I and my fhipp doe both belong > 

To the Newcaftle, that (lands upon Tyne. 80 

Haft thou not heard, nowe, Henrye Hunt/ 

As thou haft fay led by daye and by night, 
Of a Scottilh rover on the feas ; 

Men call him fir Andrew Barton, knighte ? 
Than ever he fighed, and fayd alas ! 85 

With a grieved mind, and well away ! 
But over-well I knowe that wight, 

I was his prifoner yefterday. 

V 4 

I 

As I was fayling upon the (ea, 

A fiurd^aux voyage for to fare ; 90 

To his arch-borde • he clafped me, 

And robd me of all my merchant ware: 
And mickle debts, God wot, I owe, 

And every man will have hirowne ; 
And I am nowe to London bounde, ' 9; 

Of our gracious king to beg a boone. 


You 


• Prrb*}t Hatch-borde, 


*86 A1BEIENT POEMS. 

You tell not **•& 3*4 Hwwd Ayes ; 

Lett me but once -*h*t itpbbex fee, 
for every J*flPf **»e *b*e Aoc 

it&jtfl ** jfattbfal Jbtfkfcgs ^Mtejou io» 

Jlowe Got feoe&nd, *hp wta&a»t Ayes, 

T4>*t ys>» jh»ia *ck &£ f»r *wtf# I 
God keepe you $** *' <&* <r%i*0*p b?»<fet I 

F^H IM? -ye watt whaf.fi row *p*fi. 

He ifl bra8p crekhin, d»4 ft*efe wit tot*, i<»5 

, Witfc fhrapcfi as Us ftBfx*fyf frftflge ; 

And thirtye pieces of JH*H#«0f f 
He icanrks fa each £4e {fclwg : 
And he \$tk * jrfimitf e 4«eWye 4i$&» 

St. Awtaws cipfp itt #s fejs i*?iie 5 u • 

Ills pinnajy fc&rftj) awwsfaw few, 
And fifteen *WW W #*& fo*f • 

Were ye twenfy# ft^ppfS **£ he t>*t an* 5 
I fweare by fctffa, &?4 fa*v*r, **4 fcaJJ ; 

jle wold <¥?$**? tta* « wy «kh>* us 

]f £#c? bit 1**W tfc*y 4<¥ 4 W»« fell *. 
This is «qW pojflfort, feye# »y l$r4/ 

1 

To w* tow ? Ar#n£^ e* $h# &* : 
yet lie fc if>g ftm W>4 Ms ftipp tp ftpfe* 

. py ia fe<*l»»4 fee fbfltt wry* «P«. ' 1 20 

Then 

* 72* F^wr wapA/ j* tJ/frfl/ & <wy ty t>|/ antiquary that ww$ 
explain ?bis» 


ANGfSVT POEMS, itf 

7hen a. aoble goaner yoa vm& have, 

A«4 ih* -Wift aim well with bis ee, 
And $nfee bis pinnace in the fefy 

Or ej(e he ne!er QF.ep©me w91 be : 
Andif^fii^ce^iB fcipj>4o»bor4e, \%$ 

This counfel : I mjuft give wifchaU, 
Let no man to bis topcaftle goe 

To ftrivse to let his b*a»* dawnc fall. 

And fovea pieces of ordinance, 

I pray your honour lend to misfit 13a 

On e^ch iide of .my fliipp along, 

And I wiH lead you on the fea. 
A gJa4& Sle £tt, that may he fesae, 

Whether you fayle fey day or <.n*gjht 5 
And to-morrowe, I fweare, by nine of the clocke 1 35 

Yx>u fiiaH fee Sir Andreye Barton knight. 


Thi Sec.o^d Part. 

TH E merchant fett my lorde a glafle 
Soe well apparent in his fight, 


And 


i88 ANCIENT POEMS. 

And on <the morrowe, by nine of the clocke, 
He (hewed him Sir Andre we barton knight. 

His hatchborde it was * gilt* with gold, 5 

Soe deerlye dight it dazzled the ee : 
• Nowe by my faith, lord Howarde fays, 
This is a gallant fight to fee, 

\ 

Take in your ancyents, ftandards eke, 

So clofe that no man may theih fee ; 10 '• 

And put me forth a white willowe wand, . 

As merchants ufe that fayle the fea. 
But they ftirred neither top, nor malt * ; 

Stoutly they paft Sir Andrew by. 
What Engtim churles are yonder, he fayd, - ij 

That can foe little cartefye i 

■ 

Now by the roode, three yeares and m#re- 

I have beene admifall over the fea ; 
And never ah Englim nor Portingali 

Without my leave can paffe this way, 20 

Then called he forth his flout pinnace ; 

" Fetch backe yond pedlars nowe to mee : 
I fweare by the maiTe, yon Englifh churles 
Shall all hang at my maine-maft tree," 

With 


Ptr. 5. * batched with gold/ MS, » u e. did nttfa/ut*. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 189 

With thatthe pinnace itt fliott off, . 25 

Full well lord Howard might it ken ; 
For it ftrake downe his fore-mail tree. 

And killed fourteen of his men. 
Come hither, Simon, fayesony lord, 

Looke that thy word doe fland in Head ; 39 
For at ray maine-maft thou (halt hang, 

If thou miffe thy marke one (hilling bread. 

Simon was old, but his heart was bolde. 

His ordinance he laid right lowe ; 
He put in chaine full nine yardes long, 35 

With other great (hott leffe, and moe ; 
And he lette goe his great gunnes Ihott ; 

Soe well he fettled itt with his ee, 
The firft fight that Sir Andrewe fawe, 

He fawe his* pinnace funke i* the tea. 40 

And when he faw his pinnace funke, 

Lord, how his heart with rage did fwelf ! 
" Nowe cutt my. ropes, itt is time to be gon $ 

lie fetch yond pedlars backe myfel." 
When my Lord fawe Sir Andrewe loofe, 45 

Within his heart hee was full faine : 
" Nowe fpread your ancyents, ftrike up drummes, 
'Sound all your trumpetts out amaine." 

Fight 

Ver, 35. U t. difebsrged cbain-jhot* V* 43. u e.Jllp my cable*. 


>$» ANCIENT FOEtt^ 


Fight oo, my metf, Sk Andrewe fej^, 

Wc*tehdw*c^r this g^re will ftvayj 5 A 

Jtt is my lord achmrrii of EngHtod, 

is come to feeke nfrete on the fca. 
Simon had- a fonw, who mote right wett^ 

Tfikt did Sir Andrew* mkkle feare> 
In att his delke he gave a feott, 55 

Killed threescore of his men of wartev : 

Then Hehrrye Huitt wilh rigour botf 

Came bravely on the* other fide, 
Soone he drove downe- his fdre-majl tree* 

And killed foufTeore men- betide. 60 

Ncwe, out alas ! Sir Andrewe cryed, ' 

What may a mate now thiftke, or fay ? 
Yonder merchant theefc, thai piercefch mee, 

He was my prifotter ye fterday- 

/Come hither' to me, thou Gordon good* 6c , 

That ays waft ready* at my call ; 
I will give theethtee hundred markes, 

If them wilt let m^' beames dpwne falk 
lord Howard hee then calld in ftafte* 

" Horfeley 1 fee thou be true in ftead ; 7$ 

For thou (halt at the maine-maft hang r 

If thou mifle twtiyefGore one penny breads 

Then 


r 




r 


Then Goidon. fwawrd* thtf mlim^maft' tree* . 

He fwatwwU.ifr witk-migM'aidrttoMic ;, 
But Hoi&leywith' a» bearing! arrowed 75 

Stroke theGorde* tin*>tf£fc tfo' brtime ;.' 
An<frh*feil downe t<v the^batfc&es again*-. 

And fore his deadly WOnacfodid WeetF: ~ 
JJ J TJi*a> word: Went thr*ugh Sfip:Andrfcvw »eh* 

HowhtfoU th* Gordon, he waa^feadj 80 

Come hitjfertormee* James Haflibtlttiri, 

The* artnroy only* fiflfersfonne^ • 
If thou wilt let my beatae*<k>wtie;f»U> 

Six hundred noble* 1 thou> haft' womre. 
With thafche fwarvd th^«jwne-afcall^fee^ , ' 85 

He. rfwftrvedfcwith- nimble art ; 
But Hor&ley with a broad arrdvffr 

Pierced, tb^-Hamialtoa tharotigj^ the heart : 

And downe be- fell apoo tha deck^ 

That-witMt&Moed diciibcaine-amatoe^ 90 

Then every Scott -oryed>; WcH- «w«y'! 
Alas a csmetye youth is fla&ne-t 

All woe begone was Sir Andrtw-tfacny 
Witi jflgiefowui- rag* hia hfart d*Kwe!te 
Go fetch naeforth niy arint)«fr of proofed 95 
Fori waiw the topcaftie myfei/* 


4< 


U 


Go* 


192 ANCIENT POEMS. 

" Goe fetch me forth my armour of proofe, 
That gilded is with gold foe cleare : 

God be with my brother John of Barton ! 

Again ft the Portingals hee it ware ; 100 

And when he had on this armour of proofe, 

- He was a gallant fight to fee : 

Ah ! nere didft thou meet with living wight. 
My deere brother, could cope with thee." 

Come Jnther Horfeley, fays my lord; 105 

And looke. to your fhaft that it goe right, 
Shoot a good (hoot in time of need, 

And for it thou fhalt be made a knight. 
. He fhooMny beft, quoth Horfeley then, 

Your honour fhali fee, with might andmaine ; 1 10 
But if I were hanged at your maine-maft tree, 

I have now left but arrowes twaine. 

Sir Andrew he did fwarve the tree, 

With right good will he fwarved then : 
Upon his breaft did Horfeley hitt, 1 15 

But the arrow bounded back agen. •• 
Then Horfeley fpyed a privye place 

With a perfect eye in a fecrette part ; 
Under the fpoie of his right arme 

He fmote Sir. Andrew to the heart. 120 


t* 


Fight 


ANCIENT POEMS. 193. 

" Fight on, my men, Sir Andrew faycs, 

A little line hurt, but yett not flaine ; 
He but lye downe and bleede a while, 

And then He rife and fight againe. 
" Fight on, my men» Sir Andrew faycs, 125 

And never flinche before the foe ; 
And ftand faft by St, Andrewea crofle 

Untill you heare my whittle blowe." 

They never heard his whiftle blow,— - 

Which made their hearts waxe fore adread : 1 3« 
Then Horfeley fayd, Aboard, my lord, 

For well I wott Sir Andrew's dead. 
They boarded then his noble fhipp, 

They boarded it with might and maine j 
Eighteen fcore Scotts alive they found, 13; 

The red were either maimd or flaine. 

Lord Howard tooke a fword in hand, 

And off he (mote Sir Andrewes head ; 
" I muft ha* left England many adaye, 

If thou wert alive as thou art dead.' 9 140 

He caofed his body to be call 

Over the hatchborde into the fea, 
And about his middle three hundred crownes- : 

" Wherever thou land this will burye thee." 

Vol. II. O Thus 


194 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Thus from the warns lord Howard tame, 145 

And backe he fay led -ore the maine, 
With mickle joy and triumphing 

Into Thames mouth he came againe. 
Lord Howard then a letter wrote, 

And fealed it with fealc and ring ; 15* 

" Such a noble prize have I brought to your grace r 

As never did fabject to a king, 

" Sir Andrewes ihipp I bring with mee ; 

A braver ihipp was 'never none : 
Nowe hath your grace two fhipps of warre, 155 

Before in England was but one." 
King Henryes grace with royall cheere 

Welcomed the noble Howard home, 
And where, faid he, is this rover flout, 

That I myfeHe may give the doom* f 160 

•* The rover, he is fafe, my leige, 

Full many a fadom in the fea ; 
If he were alive as he is dead, 

I muft ha 9 left England many a day : 
And your grace may thank four men i'thefliip 165 

For the viftory wee have womte, 
Thefe are William Horieley, Henry Hunt, 

And Peter Simon, and his fonne," - 


T# 


A N C j E KT P OE M S. 195 

To Henry Hunt, the Jung then fayd, 

In lieu of what was from thee tane, 170 

A noble a day now thou (halt have, 

Sir Andrewes jewels and his chayne." 
And Horfeley thou (halt be a knight, 

And lands and livings lb alt have ftore ; 
Howard fhall be earle Surrye hight, 175 

As Howards cril have beene before. 

Nowe, Peter Simon, thou art old, 

I will maintaine thee "and thy ibnne : 
And the men fhall have five hundred markes 

For the good fervice they have done. i2f 

Then in came the queene with ladyes fair 

To fee Sir Andrewe Barton knight : 
They weend that hee were brought on fhore> 

And thought to have feeri a gallant fight. 

But when they fee his deadlye face, 165 

And eyes foe hallo we in his head> 
I wold give, quoth the king, a thoufand markes* 

This man were alive as he is dead : 
Yet for the manfull part he playd, 

Which fought foe wcjl with heart apd hand, 190 
His men fhall have tw.clvepeuce a day, 

Till they come to my brQthfir kings high land. 


O 2 XIJI. LADY 


196 ANCIENT POEM.S. 


XIII. 
LADY ANNE; BOTHWELL's LAMENT. 

A Scottish Song* 

i 

YbefubjeS of this pathetic ballad the Editor once thought 
might ppffibly relate to the Earl of Bothwell, and his dejer- 
tion of his wife Lady yean Gordon, to make room for his 
marriage with the Queen of Scots : But this opinion be now 
believes to be groundlefs ; indeed earl BotbwtlVs age, who 
was upwards of 60 at the time of that marriage , renders it 
unlikely that he Jhould be the obje£l offo warm a pajjion as 
this elegy fuppofes* He has beenjince informed, that it en- 
tirely refers to a private ftory : A lady of quality of the 
name o/Bothwell, or rather Boswell, having been, to- 
gether with her child, deferted by her hujband or lover, com- 
pofed thefe offering lines herfelf; which here are given from 
a copy in the Editor** folio MS. compared with another in 
Allan Ramfafs Mifcellany. 

BA L O W, ray babe, ly ftil and fleipe ! 
It grieves me fair to fee thee weipe : 
If thouft be filent, Ife be glad. 
Thy maining maks my heart ful fad. 
Balow, my boy, thy mithers joy, 5 

Thy fattier breides me great annoy. 

Balow, my babe, ly ftil and fleipe, 
It grieves me fair to fee thee weepc. 
i When 


ANCIENT POEMS. 197 

Whan he began to court my luve, 

And with his fugred wordes • to jnuve, 10 

His faynings fals, and flattering cheire 

To me that time did not appeire : 

But now I fee, molt cruell hee 

Cares neither for my babe nor mee. 

Balow, &c. 15 

Ly ftil, my darling, fleipe a while, 

And whan thou wakeft, fweitly fmile : 

But fmile not, as thy father: did, 

To cozen maids : nay God forbid ! 

Bot yett I feire, thou wilt gae neixe 20 

Thy fatheris hart, and face to beire. 

Balow, Sec. 

I cannae chafe, but ever will 

Be luving to thy father ftil : 

Whair-eir he gae, whair-eir he ryde, 25 

My luve with him maun flil abyde : 

Jn weil or wae, whair-eir he gae, 

Mifie hart can neire depart him frae. 

Balow, &c. 

O 3 Boe 


• When fugar wasfirfi imported into Europe, it was a very great 
dainty j and therefore the epithet fugred is ujed by all our old writers 
metaphorically to expreft extreme and delicate fweetnefs^ ( See above, p. 
178. J Sugar at prefent is cheap and common \ and therefore fcgg*fis 
wow a coarfe and vulgar idea. 


198 ANCI1NT poems. 



\ 

Bot doc not, doe not, prettie mine, 30 

To faynings fals thine hart incline ; 
Pe loyal to thy luver trew, 
And nevir change hir for a new : 
If gude or faire, of hir have care,' , 
. For womeas banning's wondcrous fair. , 35 

Balow, &c. 

Bairne, fin thy cruel father Is gane, 

Thy wirifoihe (miles maun elfe mjr paine ; 

My babe and I'll together live, 

He'll comfort me whan cares doe grieve : 40 

My babe and I right faft will ly, 

And quite forgeit man's cruelty. 

Balow* &c. 

Fareweil, farewell, thou falfeft youth', 

That evir kid a worn an 9 mouth ! 4.5 

I wifh all maides be warnd by mee 

Nevir to truft hians curtefy ; 

For if we doe bot chance to bow, 

They'le ufe us than they care not hbw. 

Balow, my babe," ly ftil, and fleipe, 59 
It grieves me fair to fee thee weipe. 


XIV. TH£ 


ANCIENT POEMS. i 99 


XIV. 
THE MURDER OP THE KING OF SCOTS. 

The fiat aft rophe of Henry Stewart, lord Darnley, the un- 
, fortunate hujband of Mary S^ of Scots, is thefubjecJ of this 
ballad. It is here related in that partial imperfeSl manner , 
in which fuch an event would naturally ftr ike the fubje3s of 
another kingdom ; of which he was a native. Henry ap- 
pears to have been a vain capricious worthlefs young man, 
of weak under/landing, and dijfolute morals. . But the beau- 
ty of his perfon, and the inexperience of his youth, would 
difpofe mankind to treat him with an indulgence, which the 
cruelty of his murder would afterwards convert into the moft 
tender pity and regret : and then imagination would not fail 
to adorn his memory with all thofe virtues, he ought to have 
P*JJ\ffed' This wiH account for the extravagant elogium be- 
ft owed upon him in the firft ftanza, fcfir. 

Henry lord Darnley was etdeft fon of the earl of Lennox,, 
by the lady Margaret Douglas, niece of Henry VIII. and 
daughter of Margaret queen of Scotland by the earl of An- 
gus, whom that princfefi married after the death of James 
IV*— Darnley, who had been born and educaUd in England, 
was but in his 2 ift year, when he was mufdered, Feb, 9. 
1 5 67-8 . .This crime was perpetrated by the B. of llotbwell, 
not out ofrefpeB to the memory of David Riccio, but in order 
to pave the way fir ins own marriage with they win. 

This ballad (printed from the Editor's folio MS.) feems 
to have been written foon after Mary's efcape into England 
in 1568, fee v. 65.— *•/* will be remembered at v. J. thai, 
this prince/} wtts Qtf&toager if France, hatting been fir ft 
m&tkdtq Francis IL who died Dec* 4. 1560. 

O4 WOE 


200 ANCIENT POEMS. 

WO E worth, woe worth thee, falfcScotlandc! 
For thou haft ever wrought by fleighte j 
The worthyeft prince that ever was borne, 
You hanged under a cloud by night. 

The queene of France a letter wrote, > 

And fealed it with harte and ringe ; 

And bade him come Scotland within, 

And fhee wold marry and crowne him kinge. 

To be a king is a pleafant thing, 

To be a prince unto a peere : 10 

But you have heard, and foe have I, 

A man may well buy gold too deare. 

There was an Italyan in that place, 
Was as well beloved as ever was hee, 

And David Riccio was his name, 15 • 

Chamberlaine to the queene was hee* 

If the king had rifen forth of his place, 
Hee wold have fate him downe i* th^chaire, 

Although it befeemed him not fo well, . 
And though the kinge were prefent there, ao 

Some lords in Scotlande waxed wroth, 
And quarrelled with him for the nonce; 

And I (hall tell how it befell, 
Twelve daggers were in him att once 

When 


ANCIENT POEMS, 201 

When the queene fliee faw her chamberlaine flaine, 
For him her faire cheeks {he did weete, 26 

And made avowc for a yeare and a day 
The king and fhee wold not come in one fheete. 

Then fome of the lords they waxed wroth, 
And made their vow all vehementlye ; 30 

That for the death of the chamberiaine, 
How hee, the king himfelfe, iholde dye. 

With gun-powder they ftrewed his roome, . 

And layd greene rufhes in his waye ; 
For the traitors thought that very night 35* 

This worthye king for to betraye. 

To bedd the king he mad* him bowne ; 

To take his reft was his defire ; 
He was noe fooner caft on fleepe, 

But his chamber was on a blafing fire. 40 

Up he lope, and the window brake, 

And hee had thirtye fbote to fall ; 
Lord Bodwell kept a privy watch, 

All underneath the caftle wall- 

Who have we here ? lord Bodwell fayd : 45 

Now anfwer me, that I may know. 

m 

u King Henry the eighth my uncle was ; 
For his fweete fake fome pitty (how." 

Who 


tox ANCIENT POEMS. 

Who have we here f lord Bodwell fayd, ; 

Now anfwer me when I doe fpeake. 5* 

41 Ah, lord Bodwell, I know thee well"; 

Some pitty 00 me I pray thee take." 

lie pitty thee as much, he fayd, 
And as much favour fhow to thee, 

As thou didft to the queenes chamberlaine* . 55 
That day thou deemedft hini to die f. 

Through balls and towers the king they ledtf, 
Through towers and catties that were eye, 

Through an arbor into aa orchard, 
There on a peare-tree hedged him hye. 60 

When the governor of Scotland heard, 
How that the worthye king was flainc ( 

He perfued the queen fo bitterlye* 
That in Scotland fhee dare not remaine. 

But ihe is fledd into merry England, 6j 

And here her refidence hath tane ; 

And through the queene of England* grace, 
In England now fhee doth remaine. 


' XV. A 

^ Pnr.tunetd after the ntrthtrn manner dee. 


ANCIENT POEMS. aej 


XV. 
A SONNET BY (^ELIZABETH 

• 

The following lines , if they difplay no rich 'vein of poetry* 
are yet fo firongly charaQerifiic of their great and Jpirited 
authonfs, that the inferfion of them 'will he pardoned* "They 
are preferred in Puttenbam's Arte ofEng. Posfie ; a book in 
which are many fly addreffesto thequeen's foible of finning as 
a poetefs. The extraordinary manner in which thefe vetfet 
are introduced, Jbews what kind of homage was exa&ed from 
the courtly writers of thofe times, <ui%. 

" I find, fays this antiquated critic, none example in Engz 
t€ lift? metre, fo well maintaining this figure [Exargafia-, or 
** the Gorgeous, Lat. -Expolitio) as that dittie of her majef- 
lt ties owne making, pajfing fiweete and harmonicall \ which 
"figure beyng as his <very originall name purporteth the mqft 
€l bewtifull and gorgious of all others, it afketh in reafon tb 
"be referred for a laft complement, and defciphred by a la~ 
" diespenne, herfelfe beyng the moft bewtifull, or rather bew- 
" tie of queenes f. And this was tbeoccafion : our fo e veraigne 
" lady perceiving horn) the Scoitijh queenes refidence within 
" this realme at fo great libertie and eafe (as werefiarce 
*' meeteforfo great and dangerous a pryfoner) bred fecret 
" faSions among her people* and made many of the nobilitie 
" incline to favour her par tie : fome of them defirous of in- 
** novation in the fiat e : others afpiring to greater fortunes 
f by her libertie and life. The queene ourfoveraigne ladie 
*• to declare that Jhe was nothing ignorant of thofe fecret ' 
" pratfizes, though fie had long with great wifdome and 

" patience 

•J- Sbexvas #t this time near three- fare. 


20* ANCIENT POEMS. 

44 facience diffemhled it, writeth this dittie moft fweele and 
41 fententious, not hiding from all fucb afpiring minds the 
*' danger of their ambition and difloyaltie : which after' 
44 wards fell out mofi truly by tb* exemplary chajtifement of 
44 fundry perfons, who in favour of the f aid Scot, 3J». de~ 
44 dining from her majeflies fought to interrupt the quiet of the 
44 realme by many evill and undutifidl pracJizes ." 

¥bis fonnet feems to ba<ve been compofed in 1 569, not long 
before the D. of Norfolk , the earls of Pembroke and Arundel, 
the lord Lumley, Sir Nicb. Throcmorton, and other s, were 
taken into cuftody. See Hume, Rapin, &c .— - // was ori- 
ginally written in long lines or alexandrines, each of which 
is here divided into two. 

The prefent edition is improved by fome readings adopted 
from a copy printed in a collection from the papers of Sit 
John Harrington, intitled, Nvgje Antique* Lend. 
17699 izmo. Where the verfes are accompanied with a very 
curious letter, in which this fonnet is faid to be 4€ of her 
•' Highnefs own inditing. . . • My Lady Willoughby did 
44 covertly get it on her Majefiies tablet, and had much 
44 bazsuird info doing ; for the Queen did find out the thief, 
44 and chid for her fpreading evil bruit of her writing fitch 
4t toyes, when other matters didfo occupy her employment at 
41 this time ; and was fearful of being thought too lightly 
" offorfp doing." • • * 

TH E doubt of future foes 
Exiles my prefent joy ; 
And wit me warnes to fhun fuch fnares, 
As threaten mine annoy. 

For falfhood now doth flow, 5 

And fubjedfcs faith doth ebbe 5 
Which would not be if reafon ruPd, 

Or wifdome wove the webbe. 


Bat 1 


V. 1. Dread* at. ed. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 205 

But clowdes of joyes untried 

Do cloake afpiiing mindes ; 10 

Which turn to raine of late repent, 

By courfe of changed windes. 

The toppe of hope fuppofed 

The roote of ruthe will be ; 
And frutelefle all their grafted guiles, ie, 

As (horriy all (hall fee. 

• 

Then dazeld eyes with pride. 

Which great ambition blindes, 
Shal be unfeeld by worthy wights, 

Whofe forefight falfliood finds. 20 

The-danghter of debate *, 

That difcord ay doth fowe, 
Shal reape no gaine where former rule 

Hath taught ftil peace to growe. 

No forrcine banniflit wight 2J 

Shall an ere in this port ; 
Our realme it brookes no ftrangers force, 

Let them *lfewhere refort. 

Our rally fworde with reft 

Shall firft his edge employ, 30 

To poll the toppes, that feeke ftch change* 

Or gape for fucb like joy. 

t+t / 
Per. 9, toyes, aU cd* * Stt tvide,:t!j meanChtrt tit S^gsen nfScetu 


*6$ ANCIENT POEM & 

+4-t I cannot help fuh joining to the above fonnet another 
difiich of Elizabeths preferred by Puttenham (p. 197 J 
•* which (fays he) our f over aigne lady wrote in defiance % 
"fortune" 

Never thinke you, fortune can beafe the fway, 
Where Vertue's force can cattfe her to obay. 

Tbt Jl'ghtejt effufion of fuch a mind deferves 'at tent ten* 


xvi. 

KING OF SCOTS AND ANDREW BROWNE. 

This ballad is a proof of the little intercourfe that fubfifid 
Setween the Scots and Englijh, before the accejjion of James L 
to the crown of England. The tale which if here Jo circum- 
Jtantially related does not appear to have had the leaf founda- 
tion in hijlory, but was probably built upon fome confufd 
bear/ay report of the tumults in Scotland during the minority 
if that prince, and of the con/piracies formed by different foe- 
tions to get poffejjion of his per/on* It Jbould feem from <ven 
102. to have been written during the regency ', or at leaft he* 
fore the death, of the earl of Morton, who was condemned and 
executed June 2. 1 5 8 1 \ when James 'was in his 1 yb year. 

The original copy ( prefer ved in the archives of the Anti- 
quarian Society London) is intitled, " A n&iv $<dla4yd(d& r ~ 
* 4 ing the great treafcn. confpi red againft ihe youn% king of 
*' Scots, and how one Andrew Browne an Englijh-mant 
•• which was the king's chamberlaine, prevented the fame, 
•• To the tune of Milfield, or els to Green-JUqoesJ' At the 
end is fubjeined the name of the author W. EldBRTON. 

1 < ( Iar 


ANCIENT POEMS f ao; 


** Imprinted at London for Yarathe James, dwelling in New- 
*' g*t* Market, over againft Cb, Church," in black letter 9 
folio* 

This Elderton, who had been originally an attorney 
in the jheriffs courts of London, and afterwards (if we may 
believe OldysJ a comedian, was a facetious fuddling compa- 
nion, whofe tippling and rhymes rendered him famous among 
bis contemporaries. He was author of many popular fongs 
and ballads ; and probably other pieces in thefe volumes, 
hefides the following, are of his compofing* He is believed 
to have fallen a vi&im to his bottle before the year 1592. 
His epitaph has been recorded by Camden, and tranjlated 
by Oldys. 

Hie fitos eft fitiens, atque ebrius Elderton us, 
Quid dico hie fitus eft ? hie potius fitis eft. 

» 

Dead drunk here Elderton doth lie ; 
Dead as he is, hejtill is dry : 
So of him it may well be /aid, 
Here he, but not his thirfi, is fad. 

See Stow 9 } Lond. [Guild-halL]-^Biogr. Brit. [Drayton*, 
by Oldys, Note B.] Atb. Ox. — Camden's Remains.— Tk* 
Exale-tation of Me, among JBeaument's Poems, %vo. 1653. 
« 
♦ /^VUT alas !* what a gricfe is this 

Vjrf/ That princes fubjects cannot be true, " 

But ftill the devill hath fome of his, 

Will play their parts whatsoever enfue; 
Forgetting what a grievous thing 5 

it is to offend the anointed king ? 

Alas for woe, why fhould it be fo, 

This makes a forrowful heigh ho. 

la 


1 


io8 A N C I E N T P O E M $♦ 

In Scotland is a bonnie kinge. 

As proper a youth as neede to be, 10 

Well given to every happy thing, 

That can be in a kinge to fee ; 
Yet that anluckie country ftfll, 
Hath people given to craftie will* 

Alas for woe, &c. 15 

i 

1 

On Whitfun eve it fo befell, 

A poiTet was made to give the king, 

Whereof his Iadie nurfc hard tell, 
And that it was a poyfoned thing : 

She cryed, and called piteoaflie ; 10 

Now help, or els the king fh.all die ! 
Alas for woe, &c. 

One Browne, that was an Engliih man, 

And hard the ladies piteous crye, 
* • Oat with his fword, and beftir'd him than, 25 

Oat of the doores in hafte to flie ; 
But all the doores were made fo fall, 
Out of a window he got at laft. 

Alas for woe, &c. 

He met the bifhop coming faft, 30 

Having the poflet in his hande : 
The fight of Browne made him aghaft, 

Who bad him ftoutly ftaie and Hand. 
7 With 


A N d I £ N T 'P OEMS. 209 

* With him were two that rsnne away, 
For feare that Browne wwid make ft fray. 35 

Alas for woe, fee. * -* 

Biihop, quoth Browse, what&aft thou there? 
" Nothing at all, my inetid, fayde he; 
But a poffet to make the king good cheere. 

Is it fo ? fayd Browne, that will I fee* 40 

Firft I will hate thyfeif fegm, 
Before thou go amy further hr; 

Be it we*fe or wm, it ibaii be do, 
This mates a:fet*6wf*ii heigh ho. 

• » 

The bifhep f#j«€e, Browne i doo know, • 45 

Thou art a young maft-poew and hare ; 
Livings on thee I will beftowe : 
Let tut .g© on, tafee'fheu no tare. 
- No, no, quoth Bvowae* 1 will not bfc 
A traitour lor aii£hrii$ttfme ' 5 m 

Happe well or wGb, it Mil be fo, 
I>rink now with a fofrawfutf, fee. 

The bifliap drfcnke* and by aad hy 
His belly burft and he. fell downe : 
A juft rewarde for his traitery. 55 

, This was a poflet indeed, quoth Brown ! 
He ferched the biifrop, and found the keyes, 
To come tp the kinge when he did pleafe. 
Aiafiforwoe, &c. 

Vol. IL P ' As 


aio ANCIENT POEM & 

As Coon as the long got word pf this, 6** 

He humbly fell oppon his knee, 
And prayfed God that he did mifse 

To taft of that extremity : 
For that he did perceive and know, 
His clergie would betray him fo ; *5 

Alas for woe, &c. 

Alas, he faid, unhappie realme, 
My father, and grandfather flaine ; 

My mother banifhed, O extreame ! 
Unhappy fate, and bitter bayne I 7 # 

And now like treafon wrought for me, 

What more unhappie realme can be I 
Alas for woe, ,&c. 

The king did call his nurfe to his grace, 

And gave her twenty poundes a yeere ; 75 

And truftie Browne too in like cafe, 

He knighted him with gallant geefe ; 
And gave him ' lands and* livings great, 
tor dooing fuch a manly feat, 

As he did fhowe, to the biJhop's woe, St 
Which made, &c. 

Whca 


P". 67. Hit father was Henry Lord Darn ley. His grandfather the 
old Earl of Lenox, regent of Scotland, andfatbtr of Lord Darnl*y> n* 
murdered at Stirling, Sept. 5. 1 57 1 . * 


ANCIENT POEMS. 211 

When all this treafon done and pad,- 

Tooke not effed of traytery ; 
Another treafon at the laft> 

They fought again ft his majeftie : 85 

How they might make their kinge away, 
By a privie banket on a daye. 
Alas for woe, &c. 

* Another time* to fell the king 

Beyonde the feas they had decreed 6 : 90 

Three noble Earles heard of this thing, 

And did prevent the fame with fpecde. 
For a letter came, with fuch a charm e, 
That they mould doo their king no harme : 

For further woe* if they did foe* 95 

Would make a forrowful heigh hoe, 

^The Earle Mourtdn- told the Douglas then, 
Take heede you do not offend the king ; 
Bqt (hew yourfelves like horieft men 

Obediently in every thijig : ico 

For his godmother.* will not fee" 
Her noble childe mifus'd to be 

With any woe ; for if it be fo, 
She will make, &c. 

God graunt all fubjecls may be true, 105 

In England, Scotland, every where : 

P 2 That 


2ii ANCIENT POEMS* 

That no fuch dauager may cofoe, 

To pat the prince or Hate in fear* : 
That God the higheft king: may fee 
1 Obedience as it ought to be, 

In wealth or woe* God grannt it be Co 
To avoide* the fcrrowful heigh ho.. 


i to 


XVIL 

THE BQNNY EARL OF MURRAY. 

A Scottish Song. 

In December 1591* Francis Stewart Earl of Botbivtll 
had made an attempt to feize on the per/on of his fovereign 
James VI. hut being difappointed* had retired towards the 
north. The. king unadvifedly gave a commiffion to George 
Gordon Earl of Huntley* to purfue Bothvjell and bis follow- 
ers with f re andfword. Huntley <* under ccvtr of executing 
that commiflton* took occajion to revenge a private quarrel be 
had again/I James Stevjart Earl of Murray * a relation of 
BothvuelPs. In the night of Feb. 7. 1 592, he befet Mur- 
ray's houfe* burnt it to the ground, and Jlevj Murray him- 
felfi a young nobleman vf the moft promijing virtues* and 
the very darling of the people* See Rebertfon*s Hifl. 

The prefent Lord Murray hath novj in his pojfejjion a pic- 
ture of his anceftor naked and covered with wounds* vJbich 
had been carried about ', according to the cuflom of that age* 
in order to inflame the populace to revenge his death. If this 
pifturc did not flatter* be vjell deferved the name of the 
uonny EarLj^^ he is there reprefented as a tall and 
a.mely perfonage. It is a tradition in the family* that Gor- 
don of Bucky.g&ve him a wound in the face: Murray half 

expiring^ 


ANCIENT POEMS. a» 3 

expiring 9 /aid, (e You hae fpilt a hitter face than your 
dfwin. 9 ' Upon this, Bucky pointing his dagger at Huntley 9 ! 
breafty fwore, " You Jhall be^ as deep as I ;" and forced 
him to pierce the poor defencelefs body, 

K. JamcS) 'who took no care to punijh the murtherers y is 

/aid by fome to have privately countenanced and abetted 
them* being ftimulated by jealoufy for fome indtfcreet praifes 
*wbich his Queen had too Iwvijhly beftonvedon this unfortunate 

youth. See the preface to the next ballad, Ses alfo Mr, 

JValpoWs Catalogue 1 of Royal Auth, vol, I. /. 42. _ 

YE highlands, and ye lawlands, 
Oh ! quhair hac ye been ? 
They hae flaine the Earl of Murray, 
And hae laid him on the green. 

Now wae be to thee, Huntley ! c 

• And quhairfore did yoa fae ! 
J bade you bring him wi' you, 
But forbade yoa him to flay. 

He was a braw gallant, 

And he rid at the ring ; ip 

,And the bonny Earl of Murray, 

Oh ! he might hae been a king. 

:He was a braw gallant, 

And he playd at the ba' ; 
And the bonny Earl of Murray 15 

Was the flower among them a\ . 

P 3 # Hi 


214 A N C I E NT POEM S. 

He was a braw gallant, 

And he playd at the glove ; 
And the bonny Earl of Murray, 

Oh ! he was the Qgeenes luve. 20, 

Oh ! lang will his lady 

L'uke owre the caftle downe *, 
Ere fhe fee the Earl of Murray 

Cum founding throw the towne. 

* Caftle downe here has been thought to mean the Castle •* 
Downe, a feat belonging to the family of Murray. 


XVIII. 

YOU N G WATERS. 

A Scottish Ballad. 

// has been fuggefted to the Editor, that this ballad ffl- 
<vertly alludes to the indifcreet partiality, which 4*. Jkm$ 
if Denmark is /aid to have Jkewn for /^ bonny Earl 
of Murray ; and which is fuppofed to have influenced, 
the fate of that unhappy nobleman. Let the Reader judge 
for him/elf 

The following account of the murder is given by a con* 
temporary writer, and a per/on of credit, Sir fames Bah 
four, Knight, Lyon King of Arms, whofe MS. of the An* 
npils of Scptland is in the Advocates library at Edinburgh* ' 

" The f event h of Febry, this zeire, I 592, the Earle of 
" Murray was cruelly murthered by the Earle of Huntley at 
4< his hcufe if Dunibrifjel in Fyffe-Jhyre, and with him 

" Dunbar, 


AN C LENT POEMS. 215 


€< Dunbar, Jberiffe of Murray. It was given out and 
" pubUtkly talk, that tbt Earle of Huntley was only the 
*' inftrument of perpetrating t bis fade, tofatisfie the King's 
** jealoufie of Murray* quhum the Queene more rajbely than 
€€ nvifely, fome few days before had commendit in the 
" King's hearing, with too many epithets of a proper 
" and gallant man. The reafons of thefe furmifes pro- 
*' ceedit from a proclamation of the Kings, the 13 of 
" s Marche following ; inhibiteine the xoung Earle of Mur- 
** ray to perfue the Earle of Huntley, for his father's 
f * Jlaughter, in refpeQ he being wardeit [imprifoned] in 
" the cafiell of Blacknejfe for the fame mart her, was wil- 
*' ling to abide a try all, averring that he had done nothing 
*' but by the King's majefties commijjtone ; and was neither 
'* airt nor part in the murther f." 

The following ballad is here given from a copy printed 
not long Jince at Qlafgow, in one Jheet $vo. The world 
was indebted for its publication to the lady Jean Hume, 
jtfter to the Earle of Hume, who died lately at Gibraltar. 

ABOUT Zule, quhen the wind blew eule, 
And the round tables began, 
A' ! there is cum to our kings court • 
/ Mony a wcll-favourd man. 

The queen luikt owre the caftle wa, 5 

Beheld baith dale and down, . 
And then fhe faw zoung Waters 

Cum riding to the town. 

His footmen they did rin before. 

His horfemen rade behind, 10 

Ane mantel of the burning gowd 

Did keip him frae the wind. 

P 4 Gowden 

+ Tbh extracl is copied from the Critical Revitw* 


2j6 A N C I E NT POEM S; 

Gowden graith'd his boric before 

And filler (hod behind, 
The horfe zoung Waters rade upon, i J 

Was fleeter tjian the wind. 

i - 

Bat than fpake a wylie lord, 

• • • 

, Unto the queen faid he, 
O tell me qhua's the fftireft face 
Rides in the company. %o 

I've fene lord, and I've fene laird, 

And knights of high degree ; 
Bot a fairer face than zoung Waters 

Mine eyne did never fee* 

Put then fpack the jealous king, , ?S 

(And an^angry man was he) 
O, if he had been twice as fair, 

Zou micht have excepted me. 

Zou?re neither laird nor lord, fhe fays, 

Bot the king that wears the crown ; 30 

Theris not a knight in fair Scotland 
Bot to thee maun bow down. 

for a' that fhe could do or fay, 

Appeasd he wad nac bee j 
$ot for the words which fhe had faid 35 

Zoung Waters he maun dee. 

'•3 They 


ANCIENT PGE M S, *i| 

They Hae taen zoung Waters, and 

Pat fetters to his feet ; 
They hae taen zoung Waters, and 

Thrown him in dungeon deep. 40 

Aft I have ridden thro* Stirling town 

In the wind both and the weit ; 
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town 

Wi fetters at my feet. 

Aft have I ridden thro* Stirling town 45: 

In the wind both and the rain ; 
Bot I neir rade thro* Stirling town - 

Neir to return again. 

They hae taen to the heidinghill * : 
. His zoung fon in his c raddle, 50 

And they hae taen to the heiding-hill, 
His horfe both and his faddle. 

They hae taen to the* heiding-hill 

His lady fair to fee. 
And for the words the Queen had fpoke, 55 

Zoung Water? he did dee. 


XIX. M A- 


f Heiding-hill ; U e. beading \bebead\n%\ bilL tbt plae» rf txt> 
$ut\on was anciently an artificial billeck. 


A 


*iS ANCIENT POEMS. 


XIX. 
MARY AMBREE. 

In the year 1 5 84, the Spaniards, under the command of 

Alexander Farne/e prince of Parma, began to gain great 

advantages in Flanders and Brabant \ by recovering many 

Jtrong holds and cities from the Hollanders, as Ghent, (called 

then by the Englijb Gavkt 9 J Antwerp, Mechlin, fcfr. See 

Stow'* Annals, p, 7 1 1 • Some attempt made with the ajjtftance 

-of Englijb volunteers to retrieve the former of thoje places 

probably gave occafion to this ballad, 1 can find no mention 

9 four heroine in bifiory, but the following rhymes rendered 

bsr famous among cur poets, Ben Johnfon often mentions her, 

and calls any remarkable virrgj by her name. See his Epi- 

€*ne, firft afiedin 1609. A& \.fc. 2, His Tale of a Tub % 

AB l.Jc. 4. And bis mafque intitled the Fortunate IJlis* 

1626, where he quotes the very words of the ballad, 


Mary Ambrbe, 


(Who marched fo free 
¥0 thefiege of Gaunt, 
And death could not daunt, 
As the ballad doth vaunt) 
Were a braver wight, far. 

« 

She is alfo mentioned in Fletcher's Scornful Lady, A&. ^ 
Jub finem. 

■ " My large gentlewoman, my Mart Ambr£e, 

" had I butfeen into you, youjhould have had another bid* 
"fellow."—* 

This 


ANCIENT POEMS. 419 

4 

fTbrs ballad is printed from a black- ktter copy in the 
Pepys Collection, improved from the Editor's folio MS. The 
full (itle is, " Tbe valorous a Sis performed at Gaunt by the 
" brave bonnie lafs Mary Ambree, ivbo in revenge of ber 
*f lovers death did play ber part moft gallantly. Tbe turn 
" is, The blind beggar, \3c. 

WHEN captaines couragious, whom death colde 
not daunte, 
Did march to the fiege of the cittye of Gauute, 
They muftred their fouldiers by two and by three, 
And formoft in battle was Mary Ambree. 

■ 

Wfyen brave Sir John Major J was flaine in her fight, 5 
Who was her true lover, her joy, and delight, 
Becaufe he was flaine moft treacherouflie, 
Then vowd to revenge him Mary Ambree, 

She clothed herfelfe from the top to the toe 

In buffe of the braveft, moft feemelye to ihowe; 10 

A faire fhirt of male f then flipped on fhee 5 

Was not this a brave bonny lafs, Mary Ambree? 

A helmett of proofe fhe ftrait did provide, 

A ftrong arminge fword fhee girt by her fide, 

On her hand a goodly faire gauntlett had fhee ; 15 

Was not this a brave bonny lafs, Mary Ambree ? 

Thea 

J So MS. Serjeant Major in PC. 

+ A peculiar kind of armour, compsfed of fmall rings of iron, and worn 
under tbe cloatbs. It it mentioned by Spencer, ivbo jpeaks of tbe Ir'ijh 
Galloivglaji or Feot-fotdier as <f armed tn a hngSbirt of May /,** (Viexm 
of tbe §tate of Ireland.) 


2io ANCIENT POEMS. 

•Then tooke (hee her fworde and her targett in hand. 
Bidding all fuch as wolde, bee of her band, 
To wayt on her perfon came thoufand and three : 
Was not this a brave bonny lafs, Mary Ambree i 20 

My fouldiers fo valiant andfaithfull, Ihee fayd, 
Nowe fbllowe your captaine, no longer a mayd ; 
Still formoft in battel myfelfe will I bee : 
Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree ? 

Then'cryed out her fouldiers, and thus they did fay, 25 
Soe well thou becomeft this gallant array, 
Thy harte and thy weapons foe well do agree, 
Noe inayden was ever like Mary Ambree. 

Shee cheared her fouldiers, that foughten for life, 
With ancyent and ftandard, with drum and with fife, 30 
With brave clanging trumpetts, that founded fo free ; 
Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree ? 

Before I will fee the worft of you all 

To come into danger of death, or of thrall, 

This hand and this life I will venture fo free : 35 

Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree. 

Shee led upp her fouldiers in battel arraye, 

■Gainfi three times theyr number by breake of the daye; 

Seven howers in fkirmifh continued ibee : 

Was not this a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree ? 4° 


She 


ANCIENT POEMS. **t 

She filled the feyes with the fmoke of her fhott. 
And her enepayes bodyes with bullet* foe hott ; 
For one of her owne men a fcore killed fhee : 
Was not this a brave bonny laiTe, Mary Ambree ? • 

And when her falfe gunner, to fpoyle her intent, 4^ 
Away all ber pellets and powder had fpent, 
Straight with her keen weapon fhee flaiht him in three :; 
Was not this a brave bonny lafie, Mary Ambree ? 

Being falfelye betrayed for lucre of hyre, 
At length fhs was forced to make a retyre ; 50 

Then her fouldiers into a ftrong caftle drew fhee : 
Was not Jhia a brave bonny laffe, Mary Ambree r 

Her fojes they befett her on every Me t 

As thinking clofe Regc fhee cold never abide ; 

To beate down her walles they all did decree ; r <-; 

Butftoirtlye de%d them brave Mary Ambree. 

Then tooke fhee her fword and her targett in hand, 
And mounting the walls all undaunted did ftand, 
There daring the captaines to match any three : 
what a brave captaine was Mary Ambree ! 60 

Now faye, Englifh captaine, what woldeft thou give 
To ranfome thy felfe, which elfe muft not live ? 
Come yield thyfelfe quicklye, or flaine thou muft bee. 
Then fouled fweetlye fairc Mary Ambree. 


Ye 


tt* ANCIENT POEMS- 

Ye captaines cooragioos, of valour fo bold, 6$ 

Whom thinke yoo before you now you doe behold? 
A knight, fir, of England, and captaine Toe free, 
Who ihortelye with us a prifoner mull beet 

No captaine of England ; behold in your fignt: 
Two breits in my bofome, and therfore noe knight: •JO 
Noe knight, firs, of England, nor captaine you fee* 
But a poor fimple mayden, calld Mary Ambree. 

But art thou a woman, as thou dofl declare 1 , 
Whofe valor hath provd fo undaunted in warre i 
If England doth yield fuch brave maydens as thee, 7$ 
Full well may they conquer, faire Mary Ambree, 

The prince of Great Parma heard of her renowne, 
Who long had advanced for Englands faire crowne ; 
Hee wooed her and fued her his miftrefs to bee, 
And offerd rich prefents to Mary Ambree. 80 

* 

But this virtuous mayden defptfed them all, 
lie nere fell my honour for purple nor pall : 
A mayden of England, fir, never will bee 
The whore of a monarcke, quoth Mary Ambree. 

Then tp her owne country (hee backe did returne, 8j 
Still holding the foes of faire England in fcorne : 
Therfore Engliih captaines of every degree 
Sing forth the brave valours of Mary Ambree, 

XX. BRAVE 


ANCIENT POEMS. 123 


BRAVE LORD WILLOUGHB?, 

Peregrine Bertie lord Wilhughby ofErefby had, in the year 
1586, diftinguijbed him/elf at the Jiege of Zutphen in the 
Low Countries* He ivas the year after made general of the 
.Englijb forces in the United Provinces, in room of the earl of 
Leicefter, who ivas recalled. This gave him an opportunity 
*f * Jignali%ing bis courage and military Jkill in fever at ac- 
tions againft the Spaniards* One of theft, greatly exagge- 
rated by popular report 9 is probably the fubjeft cf this old 
ballad, wbieb 9 on account of its flattering encomiums on Eng- 
lijb valour, hath always been a favourite with the people. 

•* My lord JVilloughbie (fays a contemporary writer J was 
" une of the queenes heft Jwordjmcn : .... he was a great 

'* mafter of the art military / have beard itfpoken* 

" that had he not flighted the court \ but applied himfelf H 
** the queene, he might have enjoyed a plentifull portion of 
** her grace ; and it was his Joying, and it did him no good, 
" that he was none of the reptjli a ; intimating, that he 
" could not creepe on the ground, and that the court ivas not 
" his element; for indeed, as he ivas a great fouldier 9 fo he 
" *wa s offuitable magnanimitie, and could not brooke the ob- 
€t fequioufneffe and ajjiduitie of the court J* (Naunton.) 

Lord JVilloughbie died in 1601. — Both Norris and Tur- 
ner were famous among the military men of that age'. 

Tbefubjecl of this ballad (which is printed front an old 
black-letter copy) may pvjjibly receive illuflrat ion from what 
Chapman Jays in the Dedicat. to his verfecn cf Homtr't 
Frogs and Mice, concerning the brave and memorable Re- 
treat of Sir John Norris, with only 1000 men, thro 9 the 
whole Spanijh army, under the duke of Parma, for three 
miles together * • 

THB 


124 A N C I E N t JOElis; 

T 

TH E fifteenth day of July, , 

With gliftering fpear and fhield, 
A famous fight in Flanker* 

t 

Was fbughten in the field : 
The moft couragions officers 5 

Were Englifh captains three ; 
But the braved: man in battel 

Wat brave lord Willoughbey. 

The next was captain Norris, 

A valiant man was hee : it 

The other captain Turner, 

From field would never flee. 
With fifteen hundred fighting men, 

Alas ! there were no more* 
They fought with fourteen thoufand then if 

Upon the bloody fhore. 

Stand to it noble pikemen, 
And look you round about : 
. And (hoot you right you bow- men,- 

And we will keep them out : 20 

'You mufquet and calliver men, 

Do you provt true to me, 
Pie be the formofl man in fight, 
Says brave lord Willoughbey. 

• And 


Ancient poems. «$ 

And then the bjoody enemy 25 

They fiercely did aflail, 
And fought it out moil furioufly, > 

Not doubting to prevail ; 
The wounded men on both fides fell 

Moft pitious for to fee, , 30 

Yet nothing could the courage quell 

• > • 

Of brave lord Willoughbey. 

For feven hours to all mens view 

This fight endured fore* 
Until our men fo feeble grew 35 

That they could fight no more ; 

And then upon dead horfes 

Full favourly they eat, 

• • • 

And drank the puddle water; 

They could no better get. . . 4# 

When they had fed fo freely, 

. They kneeled on the ground, - 

And praifed God devoutly 

For the favour they had found 3 
And beating up their colours, 45 

The fight th^y did renew, 
. And turning tow'rds the Spaniard, 

A thoufand more they flew. 

Vol. n. Q^ The 


az6 ANCIENT POEM S. 

* The fliarp fteel-poihted arrows, 

And bullets thick did fly ; 50 

Then did out valiant fdldters 
Charge on mod ftfriouffy ; 
Which 1 made the Spaniards waver, 
" They thought it beft to flee, 

They feared the flout behaviour 55 

Of brave lord WilloughWy. 

Then quoth the Spauim general, 

Come let us march away, 
- I fear we fhall be fpoSed all 

If here we longer flay ; 6* 

For yonder comes ford Willoughbey 

With courage fierce and fell, 
He will not give 'one inch of way 

For all the devils in hell. 

And then the fearful *hemy &S 

Was quickly put to flight, 
Our men perfued couragioufly, 

And caught their forces quite ; 
. But at lad they gave a fliout, 

Which ecchoed through the fity, 7* 

Cod, and St. George for England I 

The conqueror's did cry. 


A-fo-C I t ft f POEMS. 227- 

This news was brought to England 

With all the fpeed might be, 
And foon our gracious queen was told 75 

Of this fame victory t 
O this is brave lord WiJloughbey, 

My l*ve that ever won. 
Of all the lords of honour 

J Tis he great deeds hath done. tda 

To th' fouldicrs that were maimed, 
, And wounded in the fray, 
The queen aflow'd a ffcrt&m 

Of fifteen pence a day, 
And from all colls and charges %z 

She quit and fet them free, 
And this fhe did all for the fake 

Of brave lord Willoughbey. 

Then courage, noble EngMhmen, 90 

And never be dlfmaid' ; 
If that we be but one to ten, 

We will not be afraid 
To fight with foreign enemies, 

And fet our nation free : 
And thus I end the bfoody bout ge 

Of brave lord Wittfcughbey. 


Q* XXJU VJC< 


2a8 ANCIENT POEMSv 


XXL 
VICTORIOUS MEN OF EARTH. 

This little mofal fonnet both fucba pointed application 
to the heroes of the foregoing and following ballads, that I 
cannot help placing it here, tbo y the date of its compofition is of 
a much later period* It is extracted from " Cupid and 
*' Death, a mafque by J. S. [James Shirley] prefenttd 
* c Mar. 26. 1 65 3 . London printed 1 65 3 ." 4/0. 

Vl&orious men of earth, no more 
Proclaim how wide your empires are £ 
Though yon binde in every fhore, 
And your triumphs reach as far 

As night or day, 5 

Yet you proud monarchs mud obey, 
And mingle with forgotten allies, when 
Death calls yee to the croud of common men* 

Devouring famine, plague, and war, 

Each able to undo mankind, *• 

Death's fervile emiflaries are : 
Nor to thefe alone confin'd, 

He hath at will 
More quaint and fubtle wayes to kill ; 
A fmile or kifs, as he will ufc the art, 15 

Shall have the cunning fkill to bwak a heart. 

. XXII. TH* 




ANCIENT POEMS. 22$ 


XXII. 
THE WINNING OF CALES. 

The Jubje8 of this ballad is the taking of the city of 
Cadiz, (called by our Jailors corruptly Cales) on June 21. 
1596, in a defcent made on the coaft of Spain, under the 
command of the Lord Howard admiral, and the Earl of 
Ejfex general. 

The valour of EJjfex was not more diftinguijhed on this oc- 

vfafion than his generofity : the town was carried fuaord in 
hand, but he ft opt the Jlaughter as foon as pojjible, and treated 
his pr if oners with the great eft humanity ■, and even affability 
and kindnefs. The Englijb made a rich plunder in the city, 
hut mijj 9 d of a much richer, by the rcfolution which the Dike 
of Medina the Spanijb admiral took,, of fetting fire to the 

JbipSy t in order to prevept their falling into the hands of the 
enemy. It was computed, that the lofs which the Spaniards 

fuftainedfrom this enterprise, amounted to twenty millions of 

ducats. See flume's Hi ft. 

The Earl of Effex knighted on this oecafion not fewer than 

fixty pirfonj, which gave rife to the following far cafm % 

A gentleman oftVahs 9 a knight of Cales, 

And a laird of the North country ; 
fiut a yeoman of Kent with his yearly rent 

Will buy them out all three. 

The ballad is printed from the Editor's folio MS. and 
feeme to have been compofed byfomt perfon% who was con~ 

Q^3 ctrntd 


' 


?3 « ANCIENT POEMS, 

eerned in the expedition. Moft of the circumftances related ' 
in it *will be found fuppor ted by biftory, 

LO N G the proud Spaniards had vaunted their con- 
quefts, 
Threatning our country with fire and (Word ; 
Often preparing their navy moft fumptuous 

With as great plenty as Spain could afford. . % 
Dub a dub, dub a dub, thus ftrike their drums ; 5 
Tantara, tantara, the Eagliwma* comes. 

Tp the feas haftily went our lord admiral, 

With knights couragious and captains full good ; 

The bwe Earl of Effex, a prosperous genial, 

Willi him prepared to pafs the fait flood. 10 

Pub a dub, Sec* 

At Plymouth (peediiye, took ihey (hip valiantly*, 

Braver nips never were feen under fayle, 

With their fair colours fpread, and ftreamers o'er their 

bead, 
Now bragging Spaniard, take heed of your tayk. 1$ 

Pub a dub, fcc. 

Unto CaJes cunningly*, cams we moft fpeedilye, 
Where the kinges navy fecurelye did ride ; 

Being upon their backs, piercing their butts of facks, 
Ere any Spaniards our coming defcry'd. to 

Pub a dub, fcc 

Great 


ANCIENT POEMS, 031 

Great w^s this crying, the running ^nd rydieg. 
Which at that feafpn was made in that place ; 

The beacons were fyred* as peed then required ; 
To hyde their great treafqrc they h^d little fpace. 25 
Dub a dub, &c. 

« 

There yep might fee their fhips, how theywm fyred faft, 
And how their men drowqed thtfnfelres ip the fea ; 

There might you hear them cry, wayle anfl weep piteou fljr, 
When they f*w no. fhjft to {cape fhence ?way . 30 
Dub a dub, &c. 

The great St. PhiHtp, the pryde of the Spaniards* 
Was burnt to the bottom, and fupk in the fea 1 
But the St, Andrew, and eke ths St* Matthew, 
. Wee took ip fight manfully* »nd bfPttgJtf §wnr« , 35 
Dub a dub, &c« 

The Earl of Eflex noft valiftat apd hard ye, 

With horfemen and potmen march'd up po the town ; 

The Spaniards, which faw them, were greatly alarme^, 
Did fly for their fafety, and d«rfi not copae down. 40 
Dub a dub, &c. 

Now, quoth the noble Earl, courage my ibjdiers all, 
Fight and be valiant, the fpoil you (hall have ; 

And be well rewarded all from the gre^t jto tjfcic fmall ; 
But fee the women and children you (aye. 45 

Dub a dub, &c. 

0.4 ™ e 


** 3 * A N C I EN T PO'EM gC 

The Spaniards at that fight, thinking it vain to fight, 
Hung out flags of truce and yielded the towne ; 

We inarched in prefentlye, decking the walls on high, 
With Englifti colours which purchas'd renowne. 50 
Dub a dub, &c. 

Entering the houfes then, of the moft richeft men, 
For gold and treafuTe we fearched each day ; 

In fome places we did find, pyes baking left behind, 
Meate at fire roiling, and folk run away. • 55 

Dub a dub, &c. . 

Full of rych merchandise, e.very (hop catch'd oar eyes, 
Damafcs and fattens and velvets fall fay re; [fwords ; 

Which foldiers meafurM out by> the length df their 
Of all commodities each had his (hare, 60 

Dub a dub, &c. 

Thus Cales was taken, and our brave general 

March'd to the market place, where he did (land ; 

There many prifoners fell to our feveral (hares, 
Many cravM mercye, and mercye they fonde. 65 
Dub a 4ub, &c. 

When our brave general faw they delayed all, 

And would not ranfome their towne as they faid, 
With their fair wajifcots, their prefles and bedfteds, 
Their joint-ftooU and tables a fire we made ; 79 

And when the town burned all in a flame, 
^yith tara, tantara, away we all came. 

* * xxm. THE 


ANCIENT. PdlMS. *33 


* 


XXIII. 
THE SPANISH LADY's LOVE. 

¥bis beautiful old ballad moft probably took its rife from 
fine of tbofe dej cents made on the Spanijb coafis in the time of 
queen Elizabeth ; and in all likelihood from that which is 
ctlebrated in the foregoing bailad. 

It is printed from an ancient black-letter copy, corrected in 
fkrt by the Editor* s folio MS. 

* 

WILL you hear a Spanifli lady, 
How (he wooed an Engliih man ? • / 

Garments gay as rich as may be 

Decked with jewels ftie had on. 
Of a comely countenance and grace was (he, 5 

And by birth and parentage of high degree* 

As his prifoner there he kept her, 

In his hands her life did lye ; 
Cupid's bands did tye them fatter 

"By the liking of an eye. IO 

In his courteous company was all her joy, 
Jo favour him in any thing fhe was not coy. 

* But 


V 

But at lad there came commandment 

For to fet the ladies free, 
With their jewels ftill adorned, iy 

None to do them injury. 
Then faid this lady mild, Full, woe is me, 
O let me ftill fuftain this kind captivity ! 

Gallant captain, fhew fome pity 

To a la4ye in diftrefle ; 20 

Leave me not within this city, 
For W dye in heavincife : • 
Th«ff haft let this present day my body free, 
Sat my heart in prifon ftill remains with thee. 

«' How fhould'ft thou, fa>r teiy* k>*e iwr, n 

Whom thou knowft thy countrys foe i 
Thy fair wordes make me fujpefit thee : 
Serpent* lie where flowers grpw." 
All the harm I wiflie to thee, mod courteous kcighx, • 
God grant the fame upon my hea4 may fully light* 30 
• 
Blefled be (he tin*c and feafon, 

That you came on Spanifh ground j 
If you may our foes be termed* 
Gentle foes we have ypu found : 
With our city, you have won our hearts each pne, 3J 
Then to your country bear away, that is yo**r py/)> 


" Reft 


r 


ANCIENT POEM5. aj$ 


** Reft you ftill, moft gallant la4y ; 
Reft you ftill, and weep no more ; 
Of fair lovers there are plenty, . 

Spain, doth yield you wonderous flare." 40 

Spaniards fraught with jealouiy we oft do find, 
Bat Engliflunen throughout the world ar£ counted kuwjL 

Leave me not unto a Spaniard* , 

Thou alone enjoyft my heart ; 
I am lovely, young, and tender, .. 4$ 

Love is likewife my defert : 
Still to ferve thee day and night my mind is preft; 
TJbe wife of every Englifliman is counted bleft. 

• " It would be a (hame, fair Jady, 

For to bear a woman hence ; 50 

Englifh foldiers never carry 
Any fuch without offence." 
Fll quickly change myfelf, if it be fo, 
And like a page will follow thee, where'er thou go. 

«* I ha*ve neither gold nor filver 55 

' To maintain thee in this cafe, 
And to travel is great charges, 
As you know in every place." 
My chains and jewels every, one ihall be thy own, ,59 
And eke* ten thoufand pounds in gold that lies unknown, 

"On 

• 500. MS, 


l$6 ANCIENT POEMS, 

44 On the Teas' are many»dangers, 
Many fforms do there arife, 

Which will be to ladies dreadful, 
f ' And force tears from watery eyes." 
Well in troth I mall endure extremity, €5 

*For I could find in heart to iqfe my life for thee. 

► 

** Courteous ladye, leave this fancy, 
Here comes all that breeds the ftrife : 
4 I in England have already 

A fweet woman to my wife ; jp 

I will not faJfify my vow for gold nor gain, 
Nor yet for all the faireft dames that* live in Spain."* 

O how happy is that woman 

That enjoys fo true a friend i 
Many happy days God fend her ; 7c 

' Of my fuit I make an end : 
On my knees I pardon crave for my offence, 
Which did from love and true affection firft commence. 

Commend me to thy lovely lady, 

Bear to her this chain of gold ; 80 

And thefe bracelets for a token ~, 

Grieving that I was fo bold : ' - 
All my jewels in like fort bear thou with thee, 
For they are fitting for thy wife, but not for me. 

I win 


J 


ANCIENT POEMS. i 37 

.J will fpend my days in prayer, Zc 

Love and all his laws defye ; 
In a nunnery will I fhroud mee 
Far from any companye : 
But ere my prayers have an end, be fure of this, 
To pray for thee and for thy love I will not mifs. 90 

Thus farewell, moft gallant captain ! 
Farewell too my heart's content ! 
Count not Spanifh ladies wanton, 
Though to thee my love was bent : 
Joy and true profperity goe dill with thee ! 95,. 

*« The like fall ever to thy (hare, moft fair ladie." 


XXIV. 
ARGENTILE AND CURAN, 

— r Is extracted from an ancient hiftorical poem in XIII 
Boons, intitled, Albion's England by William War*, 
ner : ** An author (fays a former editor) only unhappy in 
" the choice of his fubjed, and meafure of his *verfe. His 
** poem is an epitome of the Britijh hiftory, and 'written 
*' with great learning, fenfe 9 andfpirit. Infome places fine 
" to an extraordinary degree, as I think will eminently appear 
in the enfuing epifode [of Argent lie and Curan\* A tale 
full of beautiful incidents, in the romantic t aft e, extremely af- 
*' feSingy rich in ornament, 'wonderfully various inftyle ; and 
'* inJhortfOne of the moft beautiful paft orals lever met with" 
[Mufes library 81/0. 1738.] To this elogium nothing can be 

obje&ed, 




2£f ANCIENT POEMS. 

etytSed, unlefs perhaps an affeBei qumntnefs ht/ome of his 
exprejtons, and an indelichcy in feme of bis paftoral images. 
Warner is J aid to have been a War*wick/bire man % and 
to have been educated^in Oxford at Magdalene Hall * : in 
the latter part of bis life be was retained in the fervice of 
Henry Cory lord Hunfdon, to whoas be dedicates bis poem. 
More of bis hiftory is not known. Tho* now bis name is fi 
feldom mentioned, bis contemporaries ranked bins on a level 
with Spenfer 9 and called tbem tbe Homer and %irgil oftbeir 
esge\. &** Warner rat bet refembled Ovid, wubofe Mefa- 
morphofis befeems to have taken for bis model, bwing deduced 
a\ perpetual poem from tbe deluge down to tbe sera of Eliza- 
beth, full of lively digrejfions and entertaining epifodes . And 
tho 1 be isfometimes barjb, affefied, and obfcu're, be often dif- 
plays a moft charming and pathetic fimplicity : as where hi 
defcribes Eleanor's barjh treatment of Refamond : 

With that lhe dafht her on the lippes 

So dyed double red : 
Hard was the heart that gave the blow, 

Soft were thofe lippes that bled. 

The edition ^Albion's England here followed was 
frinted in 4/0, 1602 ; faid in the title -page to have been 
*' firft penned and publijhed by Willi ant Warner, and now 
1 " . rewfedand newly enlarged by the fame author." Thejiory 
•^Arg entile andCuran is I bekeve tbe poet* s own in- 
nsention ; it is not mentioned in any of our chronicles* It was 
however fo much admired* that not many years after bepnb- 
lijhed it, came out a larger poem on the Jame fubjett tuftanzut 
of fix lines, intitled, " The moft pleafant and delightful hif 
" torie of Cur an a prince of Danjke, and the fay re princeffk 
** Ar gentile, daughter and hey re to Adelbright, fometime king 
** of Northumberland, &c. by William Webster, Lou* 
€t don 1 61 7» ,> in 8 jheets 4/0. An indifferent parapbrafi 
of tbe following poem.—^This epifode of Warner's has alfo 
been altered into the common Ballad, " vf tbe two ytung 

" Prince* 

'* Atben.Oxon, \ Ibid.. 


ANCIENT POEMS.- '^ 

« c Princes on Salijbury Plain" nvhich is chtijfy coktptfed of 
PPhrner's Isms, ivitb a few <6i§tnt6iims etkd thterpolations^ 
but all greatly for the wof/e* Set the coik&icu </* W£l. Bal- 
lads, 1727, 3 Fol.izmo. 

< Tbo i here fub divided into JlanZas} Warner's metre is the 
cld-fajhioned alexandrine of 1 4/7 llables ; 7 be reader there- 
fore mufi not expe& to find the clofe of the jhtttsza* €o*Juited 
in the paufes* 

» 

THE Bru ton's ' being* departed hence 
Seaven kingdoms here begonue. 
Where diverfly in divers broyles 
The Saxons loft and won-ne* 

King Edel and king Adelbright J 

In Diria jointly raigne; 
In loyal Concorde during life 

Thefe kingly friends remaine. 

* 

When Adelbright Ihould leave his life, 

To Edel thus he fayes ; ro 

By thofe fame borfdes of happie love, 
That held us friends alwaies ; 

By our by-parted crowne, of which, 

The mayetie is mine ; 
By God, to whoai my foule muft pafle, tj 

And fo in time may thine ; 

I pray thee, nay I conjure thee, 
To nouriih, as thine owne, 

6 Thy 


240 ANCIENfPOE MS. 

Thy neece, my daughter Argentile, 

Till (he to age be growne ; 20 

And then, as thoo received ity 

Refigne to her my throne. 

A promife had for his bequefi, 

The teftatdr he dies ; 
But all that Edel undertook^ 25 

He afterwards denies. 

Yet well he * fofters for* a time 

The damfell that was growne 
The faireft lady under heaven ; 

Whofe beautie being knowne, 30 

A many princes feeke her love ; 

But none might her obtaine ; 
For grippell Edel to himfelfe 

Her kingdome fought td gaine ; 
And for that caufe from fight of fuch 35 

He did his ward reftraine. * 

By chance one Curan, fonne unto 

A prince* in Danfke, did fee 
The maid* with whom he fell in love, 

As much as man might bee. , 40 


Unhappie youth, what mould he doe ? 
His faint was kept fn mewc ; 


Nor 


ANCIENT POEMS; a 4I 

Nor he, nor any noble- mad. 
Admitted to her vewe; 


One while in melancholy fits ■ 45 

He pines himfelfe awaye ; 
Anon he thought by force of arms 

To win her if he maye : 

And (till againft the kings reftraint 

Did fecretly invay. 50 

At length the high controller Love, 

Whom none may difobay* 

Imbafed him from lorcllines 

Into a kitchen drudge, 
'That fo at leaft of life or death 5 j 

She might become his judge. 

Accefle fo had to fee and fpeake, 

He did his love bewray, 
And tells his birth : her anfwer Was, 

She hufbandles would ftay. 60 

Meane while the king did beate his braines, 

His booty to a'tchteve, 
Nor caring what became of her, 

So he by her might thrive ; 
At laft his refolution was 6$ 

Some peffant (hould her wive. 

Vol. It R And 


J4* ANCIENT POEMS. 

And (which was working to hi? win) 

He did obferve with joye 
How Coran, whom he thought a drudge, 

Scapt many an amorous toye*. 7 # 

The king, perceiving foch his veine, 

Promotes his vaffal Hill, 
Left thai; the bafenefle of the man 

Should lett, perhaps, his wilL 

Affared therefore of his love, 7S 1 

But not fufpeding who 
The lover was, the king himfelfc 

In his behalf did woe. " 

i 
The lady refolute from love, 

Unkindly takes that he fa 

Should barre the noble, and unto 

So bafe a match agree : 

And therefore (hifcing out of doores, 

Departed thence by ftealth $ 
Preferring povertie before x £5 

A dangerous life in wealth. 

¥ » 

When 


* The cenSru&fon is, " How that many an amorout toy f or foolery. •/ 
Irme, Reaped Cur an i" u e, ofcaftd from him bting off bit guard. 


J 


A N C I E N T POEMS. 243 

When Curan heard of her efcape, • 

The anguilh in his hart 
Was more than much, and after her 

From court he did -depart ; go 

Forgetfull of himfelfe, his birth, 

His country, friends, and all, 
•And only minding (whom he mill) 

The fouhdrefle of his thrall, 

V ... v 

Nor meanes he after to frequent - 95 

Or court; or (lately townea, 
But folitarily to live 

Amongft the country grownes; 

A brace of years he lived thus, 

Well pleafed ib to live, ioo 

And (hepherd-iike to feed a flocke 

Himfelfe did wholly give. 

So wailing loffe, by worke, and want, 

Grew almoft to the waine : 
But then began a fecond lovfe, 105 

The worfer of the twaine. 

A country weneh, a neatherds maid J 

Where Curan kept his iheepe, 
Did f$ed her drove : and now on her 

Was all the {bepherds keepe, 1 1 o 

R* He 


*44 ANCIENT POEMS. 

He borrowed on the working dales 
His holy ruffcts oft, 
, And of the bacon's fat, to make 
His flattops blackc and foft. 

And leaft his tarbox fliould offend, 1 15 

He left it at the folde : 
Sweete growte, or whig, his bottle had, 

As much as it might holde. 

A fheeve of bread as browne as nut, 

And cheefe as white as fnow, 12* 

And wildings, or the feafons fruit 

He did in fcrip beftow* 

And whilft his py-bald curre did fleepe, 

And fheep-hooke lay him by, 
On hollow quilles of otcn ftraw 125 

He piped melody* 

But when he fpyed her his faint* 

He wip'd his greafie fhooes, 
And clcarM the drivell from his beard* 

And thus the fhepheard wooes. 1 30 


it 


I have, fweet wench, apeeceof cheefe, 
As good as tooth may chawe, 
u And bread and wildings fouling well, 
(And thepewithall did drawe 


His 


ANCIENT POE MS. 245 

His lardrie) and in * yeaning' fee 135 

" Yon crumpling ewe, quoth he, 
" Did twinne this fall, and twin fhouldft thou, 

" If I might top with thee. ' 

*• Thou art too elvfth, faith thoo art, 

•• Too elvifh and too coy : 140 

*' Am I, I pray thee, beggarly, 
" That fuch a flocke enjoy ? 

u I wis I am not : yet that thou 

" Doeft hold me in difdaine 
49 h brimme abroad, and made a gybe 145 

*" To all that keepe this plaine, 

€< There be as quaint (at leaft that thinke 
" Themfelves as quaint) that crave 

*' The match, that thou, I wot not why, 
" Maift, but miflik'ft to have. 150 

* 

" How wouldft thou match ? (for well I wot, 

" Thou art a female) I, 
gt Her know not here that willingly 

" With maiden-head would die. 

■ * 

" The plowmans labour hath no end, 155 

" And he a churle will prove : 
" The craftfman hath more worke in hand 

" Then fitteth unto love : 

R 3 " The 

V*r* 135, Eating. PCC» Vtr* 153. Her know I not her that. i6o». 


a 4 6 ANCIENT P Q E M §. 

" The merchant, traffiquing abroad, 

". Sufpe&s his wife at home : \6o 

" A youth will play the wanton ; and 
" An old man prove a mome. 

" Then chufe a (hepheard : with the fan ' 

" He doth his flocke unfold, 
*' And all the day on hill or plaine 165 

" He merrie chat can hold ; 

" And with the fun doth folde againe ; 

" Then jogging home betime, 
" He turnes a crab, or tones a round, 
* " Or fings fome merry ryme. 170 

9 

\ 

" Nor lacks he gleefull tales, whilft roun4 

" The nut-brown bowl doth trot; 
*' And fitteth finging care away, 

« Till he to bed be got : 

» 
•' Theare fleepes he foondly all the night, 175 

** Forgetting morrow-cares ; 
*' Nor feares he blading of his come, 

u Nor uttering of his wares ; 

" Or ftormes by feaa, or ftirres on land, 
" Or cracke of credit loft : • * 1 80 


a 


Not 


Ver. 169. /. e. roafts a crab, or'apph, Vtu 171. to tell, whilft 

round the bole doth trot. Ed* 1597, 


J 


ANCIENT POEMS, a 4 y 


** Not {pending rranklier than his flocke 
•« Shall BiU defray the cert. 




Well wot J, footh they fay, that fay 

More qoiet nights and daies 
The ihepheard fleeps and wakes, than he 1 85 
•* Whole cartel he' doth graize. 

" Beleeve me, lafle, a king is bat 

•* A man, and fo am I : 
" Content is worth a monarchic, 

** And mifchiefs hit the hie ; 190 

** As late it did a king and his ' 

" Not dwelling far from hence, 
<' Who left a daughter, fate thyielfe, 

•? For fair a matchleft wench."—* 
Here did he paofe, as if his tongue 195 

Had done his heart offence. 

The neatrefle, longing for the reft, 

Did cgge him on to tell 
How faire (he was, and who (he was* 

" She bore, <jaoth he, the bell 200 

" For beantie : tbovgh I clownifli am, 

" 1 know what beantie is ; 
" Or did I not, at feeing thee, 

?* I fenceles were to mis. 

• j * • • 


I * 


248 ANCIENT F O E, M S, 

" Her Hature comely, tall ; her gate 20J 

" Well graced ; and her wit 
" To marvell at, not meddle with, 

" As matchlefs I omit. 

** A globe-like head, a gold- like haire, 

" A forehead fmooth, and hie, 219 

" An even nofe $ on cither fide 
*' Did fliine a grayifh eie ; 

Two rofie cheeks, round ruddy lips, 

" White juft-fet teeth within ; 
€t A mouth in meane ; and underneathe 31 j 

i€ A round and dimpled chin. 

* 1 

" Her, fnowie necke, with blewifh veines, 

" Stood bolt upright upon 
" Her portly fhoulders : beating balles 

'* Her veined breads, anon 11% 

" Adde more to beautie. Wand-like was 
" Her middle falling ftill, 
And rifing whereas women rife : • • • 
— Imagine nothing ill. 


it 


*' And more, her long, and Kmber arme* 225 

" Had white and azure wrifts ; 
" And denser fingers aunfwere to 

Her fmooth and liUie fifts. 

2 «'A 


ANCIENT POEMS. 249 

*' A legge in print, a pretie foot ; 1 

V Conje&ure of the reft : 230 

.*' For amorous eies, obferving forme, 
" Think parts obfcured bed. 

" With thefe, O raretie ! with thefe 

44 Her tong of fpeech*was fpare.; 
" But fpeaking, Venus feem'd to fpeake, 23$ 

44 The balle from Ide to bear. 

« With Phoebe, Juno, and with both 

" Herfelfe contends in face ; 
44 Wheare equall mixture did not want 

" Of mil4e and ftately grace. 240 

*' Her fmiles were fober, and her lookes 

** Were chearefull unto all : 
€€ Even fuch as neither wanton feeme, 

** Norwaiward; mejl, nor gall. 

*' A quiet minde, a patient moode, 245 

4t And not difdaining any ; 
44 Not gybing, gadding, gawdy : and 

44 Sweete faculties had many. 

*' A nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie, 
44 Might praife, might wifh, might fee ; z$m 

V For life, for love, for forme; more good, 
*' More worth, more fajre than fliee. 


it 


Yc* 


ISO ANCIENT POEMS. 

" Yea fach an one, as fuch was none, 

** Save oily ffie was fuch : 
" Of Argentrle to fay the moft, 255 

tc Were to be filent much.** 

• 

I knew the lady Very well, 

Bat worthies of fach praife, 
The neatreffe faid : and mofe I do, 

A fhepheard thas (hould blaze 26* 

The • coate' of beaotie *. Credit toe, 

. Thy latter fpeech bewraies 

« 

Thy clownifh ihape a coined (hew. 

But wherefore doft thou weepe ? 
The fhepheard wept, and (he was woe, 265 

And both doe filence keepe. 

•• In froth, quoth he, I am not fach, 

*' As feeming I profeiTe : 
*' But then for her, and now for thee, 

•* I from myfelfe digrefle. J 270 

* Her loved I (wretch that I am 

*' A recreant to be) 
'• I loved \{cr 9 that hated love, 

" But now I die for thee. ' 

*' At Kirkland is my fathers court, 275 

"And Curan is my name, 

" In 

• i, e. emblazon beauty 1 s coat. Ed, 1597* x6oz« i6r2» rtaJ, Coote* 


ANCIENT POEMS. 5 S *» 

," In Edels court fometimes in pompc, 

* 

" Till love contrould the fame : 


" But now~what now ?— deare heart, how now ? 

" What aileft thou to weepe ?" * 280* 

The damfell wept, and he was woe, 

And both did iilence keepe* 

I graunt, quoth £he, it was too much 

That you did love fo much : 
But whom your former could not move, 2S5 

Your fecond love doth touch. 

Thy twice-beloved Argentile 

Submitteth her to thee, 
And for thy double love prefenta 

Herfelf a fingle fee, zgo 

In paffion not in perfon chaung'd, 

And I, my lord, am fhe. 

They fweetly furfeiting in joy, 

And filent for a fpace, 
When as the extafie had end, 295 

Did tenderly imbfface 5 
And for their wedding, and their wiih 

Got fitting time and place. 

Not England (for of Hengift then 

Was named fo this land) 300 

Then Curan had an hardier knight ; 
*""'.* 1 His 


»5* ANCIENT POEMS. 

His force could none withftand : 
Whofe fheep-hooke laid apart, he then 
Had higher things in hand. 

Firft, making knowne his lawful! claime 3*5 

In Argentile her right, 
He warrM in Diria # , and he wonne 

Bernicia * too in fight ; 

And fo from trecherous Edel tooke 

At once his life and crowne, 310 

And of Northumberland was king, 

Long raigning in renowne. 

« 

• * During the Saxon heptarchy* the kingdom ofNortbum* 
Inland (confifting of 6 northern counties, hefides part of 
Scotland) was for a long time divided into two lejjer ft* 
njereignties, *vix> Deira (called here Diria) which contained 
the font hern parti , and Bernicia, comprehending thofe which 
fay north* 


XXV. 

C O R I N's FATE. 

Only the three firftftanzas of this fong are ancient ; theft 

are ext railed from a fmdil quarto MS. in the editor* s pof- 

fefion, written in the time */*<£. Elizabeth. As tbeyfeemd 

to want application, this has been attemfVtd by a modern 

kandp 

CORIN, 


ANCIENT POE MS, i$% 

CO R I N, moll unhappie fwaine, 
Whither wilt thou drive thy flocfce t 
Little foode is on the plaine ; 
Full of danger is the rocke : 

Wolfes and beares doe kepe the woodes ; g 

Forefts tangled are with brakes : 
Meadowes fubjelt are to floodes ; 

Moores are full of miry lakes. 

Yet to fhun all plaine, and hill, 

Foreft, moore, and meadow-ground, %oj 

Hanger will as furely kill : 

How may then reliefe be found ? 

Such is haplefs Corins fate : 

Since my waywarde love begunne, 
Equal! doubts begett debate >j 

What to fecke, and what to fhunne. 

Spare to fpeke, and fpare to fpeed ; 

Yet to fpeke will move difdaine : 
If I fee her not I bleed. 

Yet her fight augments my paine. 20 


What may then poor Corin doe ? 

Tell me, ihepherdes, quicklye tell ; 
For to linger thus in woe 

Is the lover's fliarpeft hell. 


• • 


XXVL JANE 


154 ANCIENT POEMS; 


XXVL 

JANE SHORE. 

*Fbo y fo many vulgar errors have prevailed concerning this 
celebrated courtezan, no charaSier in hiftory has been more 
ferfecily handed down to us* We have her portrait drawn 
fy>two majlerly pens ; the one has delineated the features of 
Jerjerfon, the other thofe cf her character and ftory. Sir 
Thomas More drew from the life, and Drayton has copied an 
mrigihol piclure of her* The reader will pardon the length of 
the quotations, as they ferve to correQ many popufar mUlakts 
relating to her cataftrophe. The firft is from Sir Thomas 
Mo re's biftury of Rich. II L written in 1513, about thirty 
years after the death ofEdw. IF* 




"«f Now then by and by, as it wet for anger, not for covt- 

fife* the prote&or fent into the houfe of Shores wife (for 

her bujb and dwelled not with her ) ana f/p oiled her of al that 

*' ever /he had, (above the value of 2 or 3 thoufand marks) 

€t and J en t her body to prifon. And when be bad a nubile hide 

•* unto her, for the manerfake, that Jhe went about to bewitch 

€t him, and that Jhe was ofcounfelwitb the. lord cbamberlti* 

€t to deftroy him : in conclufion when that no colour could f of- 

*** ten upon thefe matters, then he layd heinoujly to her cbargi 

the thing that herfelfe could not dehy, that al the world wif 

<u>as true, and that natheles every man laughed at to here 

it then fo fodainly fo highly taken,— that Jhe was naught 

of her body. And for tbys caufe (as a goodly continent 

jprince, dene andfautles of himfelf, fent oute of heaven into 

" this vicious world for the amendment of mens matters) bt 

** eaufed the bijhop of London to put her to open penance, go~ 

" ing before the crojfe inyrocejfion upon afonday with a taftf 

** it 


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ANCIENT POEM& 155 

*• «* ber band. Im which jbe 'went in countenance and fact 
" demure fo womanly ; and albeit Jbe was out of al array 
** fave ber kyrtle only* yet went jbe fo fair and lovely, name' 
lye, nubile tbe nxondering of t be people cafte a comly rud id 
ber cbekes (of which jbe before bad mofi mijfe) that ber" 
great jbame <wan ber mucb praife among tb&Je tbat tvere 
more amorous of ber body, then curious of ber joule: And 
many goodfolie aljo, tbat bated ber living, and glad <wef 
tofefin corrected, yet pittied tbei more ber penance then re- 
4t joiced tberin, nuben tbei confidred tbat tbe protestor pro- 
4 * cured it more of a corrupt intent, then any virtuous affeccU n. 
" This woman was born in London, *vutrjbipfullyfr ended, 
'* boneftly brought up, and very wel maryed, favingfome- 
wbat tofoone ; her bujbande an boneji citizen y ycige, and 
goodly, and of good jubjlame. But forajmucbe as they 
tvere coupled ere Jbe nver wel ripe, Jbe not very fervently 
loved, for whom jbe never longed. Which was happily 
tbe tbinge, tbat tbe more eafly made ber encline unto tbe 
king's appetite, when be required her, Howbeit the refpeS 
of bis royaltie, the hope of gay apparel, eafe, plefure, and 
other wanton nvelth, was able Joone to perfe ajoft tender 
heart e. But when tbe king had abuj'ed her, anon her" 
hujband (as he was an boneji man, and 6ne that could his 
good, not prejuming to touch a hinges concubine) left her 
up to him al together. When the king died, the lord 
cbamberlen \Hafiings\ toke her* : which in the' kinges 
daies, albeit be wasjore enamoured upon ber, yet beforbare 

" ber 9 

"* After tbe death of Hajlings, Jhe was kept by tbe marquis of Dorfet, 
Jon to Edward IV *s queen, in Rymers Feeder a rs a proclamation of 
Richard's, dated at Ldcefter, Oil. 23. 1483. wherein a reward of 1000 
marks in money, or 100 a year in land is offered for taking " Thomas late 
u marquis of Dorfet," who " not having the fear of God, nor tbe Jal- 
*' vat ion of bis own foul, before his eyes, has damnably debauched and 
** defiled many maids, widows, and wives, and lived in actual 
" adultery with the WIFE or Shore/* Buckingham was at 
tbat time in rebellion, but asDorfet was not with him, Richard could not 
aecuje him of tr eaten, and therefore made a handle of tbefe pfetended de~ 
baucbtrm to get him apprehended. Vide Rym, Fm3% torn, xij. pag. 204. 


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156 AfcClENT POEMS. 

*' her, cither for reverence, or for a certain frendly faithful* 

" Uefs. 

" Proper fie was, and fair e : nothing in her body that y oil 
4c wold have changed, out if you would have ivijhed her 
# * fomewbat higher. Thus fay thei that knew her in her 
" youthe. Albeit fome that now£BK her^por ybt she 
" liveth) deme her never to have bene wel vifaged. 
" Whofe jugement feemeth me fomewbat like, as though men 
# * Jhould gejfe the bewty of one longe before departed, by her 
"fcalpe taken out of the charneUhoufe ; for now is jhe old, 
# * kne t withered, and dried up, nothing left but ryvildejkini 
'* and hard bone. And yet being evenfucb, wbofo wel ad- 

vife her vifage, might geffe and devife which partes how 
filed, wold make it a fair e face. 

Tet delited not men Jo much in her bewty, as in berplea- 

font behaviour. For a proper wit had Jhe > and could both 
** rede wel and write ; mery in company, redy and quick of 
" aunjwer, neither mute norful of table ; fometime taunting 

without difpleafure, and not without dijport. The king 

would fay, That he had three concubines, which in three 
•• divers properties diverjly excelled. One the merieft, an' 
*' ether the wilieft, the thirde the holieft harlot in his realm t 
•' as one whom no man could get out of the church lightly to 
«' any place, but it wer to bis bed* The other two wet 
€C fomwbat greater per/bnages, andnatheles of their humilite 
** content to be nameUs, and to for here the pfaife ofthofepro" 
" per ties ; but the merieft was the Shoris wife, in whom the 
" king therfore toke fpecial pleafure. For many he hadi 
** but her he loved, whofe favour, tofai the trout b (for 
" finne it wer to belie the devil J Jhe never abufed to any 
" mans hurt, but to many a mans comfort and relief. Where 
** the king toke difpleafure, Jhe <would mitigate and appeafc 
* c his mind: where men were out of favour, Jke wold bring 
tf them in his grace : for many, that had highly offended, 
* l Jbee obtained pardon : of great forfeitures fie gate men 
" remijjion : and finally in many weighty Jutes Jhe ft ode many 
" men in gret ftede, either for none or very final rewardes, 
4S and thofe rather gay than rich : either for that Jhe was 

* f content 




ANCIENT POEMS. 257 

4< content with the dedefelfe well dene, or for that Jbe de- 
*' tired to* be fued unto, and to Jhow what Jbe was able to 
" do wyth tbe king, or for that wanton women and welt by 
" be not ahv ay covetous. 

41 1 doubt not fome Jhal think this woman too Jleight a 
€t thing to be 'written of, and Jet amonge the remembraunces 
*' of great matters : which tbei Jhal fpecially think, that 
" bappely Jhal efieme her only, by that tbei now sbe her* 
•• But mefemeth the cbauncefo much the more worthy to be 
* l remembred, in bow much Jbe is now in the more beg- 
" gwfy condition, unfrended andworne out of acquaintance, 
** after good fubftance, after as grete favour with the 
** prince, after as grete fute andfeeking to with al tbofe, 
-* ( that in tbofe days had bujynes to Jpede, as many other 
" men were in their times, 'which be now famoufe only by 
** the infamy of their il dedes. Her doinges were not much 
** lejffe, albeit tbei be muche lejfe remembred becaufe, tbei 
4< were not Jo evil. For men ufe, if they have an evil 
* ( turnt, to write it in marble ; and whofo doth us a good 
" tourne, we -write it in dufte*. Which is not worft 
" proved Jby her; for at this daye/« beggetb of ma- 
" ny at this daye living, that at this day had begged, if 
^ fiee bad not bene.* 9 See More' s workes, folio, bl, let. 

*SS7- P«g- 5 6 - 57- 
.. D R ay to n has written a poetical epijile from this lady 

to her royal lover, in his notes on which he thus draws her 

portrait. t( Her fiat ure was meane, her haire . of a dark 

%\ yellow, her face round and full, her eye gray, delicate 

*' harmony being betwixt each par? s proportion, and each 

** proportions colour, her body fat, (white and fmooth, her 

** countenance cbeerfull and like to her condition* The pic 

Vol. II. S "ture 

«• 

* Theft words of Sir Thomas More probaBly f*gz*fttd to ^bakefpeara 
that proverbial reJUSion, in H<n. vsij. Aft. 4. Jc. 11. 

*' Mttfi will manners live in brafs : their virtues 

t€ We write in water" 
Sbakefp. in bis flay of Rich. III. follows Moris Hijf. of that reign, and 
therefore crM.not but fee tbh paffage. 


as8 ANCIENT POEMS. 


'* ture which Ibavefien of hers vdatfueh asjherojeout 
" of her bid in the morning, baiting nothing on bnt a rick 
" mantle caft under one .anne over her JheuUcr 9 and fitting 
*' on a cbaire, on which her naked arm did lie. Whaihet 
"father's home was, or where /be isms borne, is uorttr- 
" tainly knowne : bnt Shore a young man of right goodly 
" per/on, wealth and behaviour •, abandoned her bed after 
" the king bad made her bis concubine. Richard III. 
«* caufing her to do open penance in Paul's tburch-yerd, 

u COMMANDED THAT NO MAN SHOULD RELIEVE 

" her, which the tyrant did not fo much for his hatred to 
* l fiune, but that by making his brother's life odious i be might 
** cover' bis horrible treafons the more cunningly** See 
England's HtYoical epifiles, by Mich. Drayton, Bfy% Lend. 
1637. tZmo. 

An original Pi^ure of ]\he Shore almofi naked k pre*, 
ferved in the Provoft's Lodgings at Eton ; and another pic- 
ture of her is in the Provoft's Lodge at King's College Cam- 
bridge: to both which foundations Jbe is fuppofed to have 
done friendly offices with Edward IV. A Jmall quern 
Mezzotinto Print was taken from the former of theft by 
J. Faber. 

The following ballad is printed from an old black letter 
copy in the Pepys coll 8ion. Its fell title is, " The woefitll 
** lamentation of Jane Shore, a goldfmith's wife in London, 
** fometime king Edward IF, bis concubine. To the tune 
" of Life with me, Wr." [See the firfi. volume.] T* 
very flanza is annexed the following burthen*: 

Then maids and wives in time amend, 
For love and beauty will have end. 

IF Rofamonde that was fo faire, 
Had caufe her for r owes to declare. 
Then let Jane Shore with foirowe fing, 
That was beloved of a king. 


1 

j 


A N C I ; E N T ;PO EMS. 2^9 

In maiden yearn jay. beajtfye bright 5 

Was loved dear of lord andjcnight ; 
But yet the love that they requir'd, 
It was not as my friends defir'd. 

My parents they,* for. {hiritpf gaine, 
A hufband for me did obtaine ; 10 

. And I, their pleafure to fulfill?, 
Was forc'd to wedd againft my wi}le« 

To Matthew £hpre I was a wife, 

Till lull brought ruine to my life ; 

And then my life I lewd lye fpent, 1 5 

Which makes my foul for to lament. 

In Lombard-ftreet I once did dwelle, 

As London yet can witnefs welle ; 

Where many .gallants -did beholde 

My beautye in a ihop of ^golcie. 20 

« 

I fpred my plumes, as, wantons doe, 
Some fweet and fecret friende to wooe, 
Becaufe chad love I did not finde 

> 

Agreeing to my wanton minde. 

At laft my name in court did ring 1 25 

Into the eares of Englandes king, 
Who came and lik'd, and love requir'd, 
But I made coye what he deiir'd : 

S a - Ye* 

Swab. (T 


160 ANCIENT POEM*. 

Yet Miftrefs Blague, a neighbour neart # 
Whofc friendfhip I efteemed dear e t jo 

Did faye, It was at gallant thing 
To bp beloved of a king* 

i 

By her perfuaiions I was led, 

For to defile my marriage-bed, 

And wronge my wedded hufband Short, 3$ 

Whom 1 had married yeares before. 

In heart and mind I did rejoyce, j 

That I had made fo fweet a choice-; 

And therefore did my ftate reiigne, 

To be king Edward's concubine* 40 

From chy then to court I went, 
To reape the pleafures of content; 
There had' the joyes that love could bring, 
And knew the fecrets of a king. 

When I was thus advane'd on high? 45 

Commanding Edward with mine eye, 
For Mrs. Blague I in fhort fpace 
Obtainde a livinge from his grace* 

No friende I had but in (hort time 

I made unto promotion climbe ; fo 

But yet for all this coftlye pride, 

My hufbande could not mee abide. 

5 / 4 - - Hi* 


ANCIENT POEM'S. a6i 

His bed, though wronged by a Icing, 

.His heart with deadly e griefe did fling 5 

From England then he goes away 55 

To end his life beyond the fea. 

He could not live to fee his name 

Impared by my wanton iharoe ; 

Although a prince of peerlefle might 

Did reape die pleafure of his right. 6m 

Long time I lived in the courte, 
With lords and ladies of great forte ; 
And when I fmil'd all men were glad, 
But when I frown'd my prince grewe fad. 

But yet a gentle minde I bore 4)g 

To helplefle people, that were poorc ; 

I ftill redreft the orphans crye, 

And fav'd their lives condemnd to dye. 

I ftill had ruth on widowes tears, . 

I fuccour'd babes of tender yeares ; 70 

And never looked for other gaine 

But love and thankes for all my paiae. 

At laft my royall king did dye, 
And then my dayes of woe grew nighe ; ., 
When crook-back Richard got the crowne, 75 
King Edwards friends were foon pu* dotyne. 

S3 I then 


26a ANCIENT PO E MS. 

I then was punifht for my fin, 

That I fa long had lived in; 

Yea, every one that was his friend, 

This tyrant brought to Jhamefnll end, So 

Then for my lewd and wanton lift, 
That inade a (trumpet of a wife, 
J penance did in Lombard-iireet, 
In fhamefull manner in a fheet. 

Where many thjoufands did me viewe» #$ 

Who late in court toy credit fcnewe 5 
Which made the teares ran down my face. 
To thinke upon my foal difgrace. 

Not thus content, they took from me* 
My goodes, my livings, and my fee, 90 

And charg'd that none fhould me relieve, 
fcor any fuccopf to me give. 

Then unto Mrs. Blague I went, 

To whom my jewels I had fcnt, 

In hope therebye to eafe my want, 95 

When riches fail'd, and lore grew fcant ; 

But (he denyed to me the fame 
When in my need for them I came ; 
To recompence my former love, 
Put of frer 4<wes fliee did rap fhove, i 09 

§9 


j 


ANQIENT POEMS.' 263 

80 love did vanjfli with my date, 
Which now my foul repent* too late ; 
Therefore example take by mee, 
For friendJhip parts in poyerue. 

But yet one friend among the, reft, 105 

Whom I before had feen diftre/t, 
And fav'd his life, condemn'd to die, • 
Did give me food to fuccour me : 

For which, by law£, it; was decreed 

That he w<as hanged for tha f t deed ; up 

His death did grieve me fo much more, 

Than had I dyed inyfejf therefore. 

Then thofe to whom I had done goody 

Durft not afford mee any fpo^l ; * , 

Whereby I begged all the day, 115, 

And ftill in ftreets by night I lay. 

My gowns befet with pearl and gold, 

Wer.e tiirn'd to fimple garments old ; 

My chains and gems and golden rings, 

To filthy rags and loathfome things. 120 

Thus was I fcom'd of maid and wife, 
For leading fveh a wicked life ; 
Both fucking babes and children fmall, 
Did snake their paflime at my fall. 

S 4 I could 


a64 ANCIENT POEMS. 


* 


I could not get one bit of bread, uj 

Whereby my hunger might be fed i 
Nor drink, but ftch as channels yield, 
Or {linking ditches in the field. 


Thus, weary of my life, at lengthe 

I yielded up my vital (bength ijo 

Within a ditch of loathfome fcent, 

Where carrion dogs did much frequent : 

The which now fince my dying daye. 
Is Shoreditch call ? d, as writers, faye *, 
Which is a witnefs of my finne, i jj 

Fpr being concubine to a king* 

You wanton wives, that fall to lull, 

Be you aflurM that God is juft ; 

Whoredome fhalInot eftape his hand, 

Nor pride unpuniuVd in this land. 140 

If God to me fuch fhame did bring, 
That yielded only to a king, 
How (hall they fcape that daily run 
To pradlife fin with every one r 


You 


* F *yj bad tbh "* me h *£ he f or '\ h "»g fi "'ltd frin its hem * 
tmmn SEWER (vulgarly SHORE) or draL Set Stow. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 265 

1 

You hufbands, match sot but for lore;, 145 

Left fome difliking after prove ; 
Women, be warn'd when you are wives, 
What plagues are due to finful lives: 

Then, maids and wives, in time amend* 

■ 

For love and beauty will have end. 


XXVIL 
CORYDON's DOLEFUL KN£LL 


This little fimple elegy is given, with fome corrections, 
from two copies, one of which is in *' The golden garland of 
*' princely Mights." 

The hurt hem ofthe/ong, Ding Dong, &c. is at prefent 
appropriated to hurlefque fubjeQs, and therefore may excite 
only ludicrous ideas in a modern reader ; hut in the time of 
our poet 'it ufually accompanied the mofi folemn and mournful 
firains. Of this kind is that fine atrial Dirge in Shake- 
Spear's Tempefi, 


4t Full fadom five thy father lies, 
" Of his hones are corrall made , 

*' Thofe are pearles that were his eyes ; 
" Nothing of him, that doth fade, 

49 But doth fuffer afea-cbange 

'• Into f cmet bin g rich and fir ange : 


4* 


StM- 


z66 A.NC1ENTPQEMS, 

€< Sea-nympbi bemrfy ring bis knell* 
" Harke now J beare tbcou Ding dong bill* 9 

[" Burtben, Ding Jong. 9 *] 

/ make no doubt but tbe feet intended to conclude tbis air in * 
manner tbe moftfolemn and exppejfive of melancholy. 

MY Phillida, adieu lore ! 
For evermore farewel ! 
Ay me ! IVe loft my true love, 
And thus I ring her knell, 
. Ding dong, ding dong,. ding dong, 5 

My Phillida is dead ! 
Ill fti*k a bt anjck of willow 
At my fair Phillis' head. 

For my fair Phillida 

Oar bridal bed was made s 1* 

Jtat 'dead of filkes fo gay, 

She in her Jhroud is laid. 
Ding, &q. 

Her corpfe (hall be attended 

By m aides in fair array, 
Till th* obfeqnies are ended, 1J 

And foe is wrapt in day. 
Ding, &c. 

Her 


ANCI E'N T POEMS. *6> 

Her herfc it (hall be carried 

By youths, that do excel! ; 
And when that (he is buried, 

I thus will ring her knell, 20 

Ding, &c. 

A garland (hall be framed 

By art and natures {kill, 
Of fundry-colpurM flowers, 

In token of good-will f : 
Ding, &c. 

And fundry-coloar'd ribbands ,^5 

On it I will beftow ; 
But chiefly black and yejlowe •" 

With her to grave (hall go. 
Ding, &e. 

I'll deeke her tomb with flowers, 

The rareft ever feeo, 30 

And with my tears, as (howers, 

Til ke>pe them freth and green. 
Ding, &c. 


Inftead 


f It is a cuftm in many parts of England, to carry a fine garland be- 
, fire the corpje of a woman who dies unmarried* 

• See above, preface to No, XL Book II. 


268 ANCIENT POEMS- 

Inftead of faireft colours, 

Set forth with curious ait *» 
Her image fhall be painted 15 

Oa xay diflrefled heart. 
Ding, &c. 

And thereon Audi be graven 

*' Her epitaph fo ftire, 
4$ Here lies the iovelieft maiden, ' 

** That e'er gave fliepheard' care; * 40 

Ding, &c. 

In fable will I monrne ; 

Blacke fhall be all toy weede, , 
Ay me ! I am forlorne, 
Now Phillida is dead. 

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong, 45 
. My Phillida is dead ! 
I'll dick a branch of willow 
At my fair Phillis' head* 


* This alludes to the pmnttj egiget cfAIabafler, anciently e?&ti*t* 
tmnks and mommtntu 


THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK. 


• ECljAOCft 
of ANCIENT POETRY,, 

SERIES the SECOND. 

BOOK DL 

I. 
THE COMPLAINT OF CONSCIENCE. 

I Jball begin /£»> Third Book toitb an eld alUgorit 
Satin : A manner of moralising, ixhicb, if it war notfrft 
inlnduad by the author (j/Tjlrce Plowman's Visions, 
was at haft chiefly brought into refute by that ancient fati- 
rift- It is not fa generally known that the kind of '•utrfe uft -J 
in this ballad hath any affinity with the peculiar metre of 
that writer, for vibieb reafen I Jball throw together fome 
<mrfoiy remarks en that wry ftnguiar fptciei of verification, 
tit nature of -which bat bttnft little unitrftoeJ. 

6» 


270 ANCIENT POEMS. 

On thi metre 

OF 

Pierce Plowman's Visions. 

We learn from Wormius (aj, that the ancient Iflandic 
poets ufed a great variety of meafares : he mentions 136 
different kinds, without including rhyme, or a cor- 
respondence of final fyllables : yet this was occafion ally 
ufed, as appears from the Ode of Egil, whiqh^ormius 
hath inferted in his. book. ... ^ 

He hath analyfed theiiru&are of one of thefe kinds of 
yerfe, the harmony of which neither depended orj the 
quantity of the fyllables, like that of the ancient Greeks 
and Romans ; nor on the rhymes at the end, as in modern 
poetry; but confifted altogether in. alliteration, or a cer- 
tain artful repetition of the founds in the middle of the 
verfes. This was adjusted according %q certain rules of 
their profody, one of which was, that e very dtftich mould 
contain at leaft three words beginning with the fame let- 
ter or found. Two of* thefe correfpondent founds might 
be placed either in the fir ft or fecond A»ne of the cUftich, 
and one in the other : but all three were not regularly 
to be crowded into one line. This.' will be beft under r 
ftood by the following examples (b). 

a Mclre og Afinne <f <7ab Ginuogs 

Afogu htiimialfer.'* Ean Grzs fap^rgf." 

There were many other little niceties observed by the 
Iflandic poets, who as they retained their original lan- 
guage and peculiarities longer than the other nations of 
* ^Gothic 

(a) Literatura Runlca. Hafnix 1636, 4to. — .1651. Fol. Tn* 
Is lan Die language is or" the fame origin as our An GH»-SAXOi«,fcei*g 
both diaje&s of ths ancient Gothic or Teutonic. Vid. Hickcfii 
Prxfat. in Oram mat. Anglo-Saxon. Sc Mopff-Gotru 4to, 1^9. 

(b) Vid Hickes* Antiq. Literatur, Septentrional. Tom. I. p* 21^ 


ANCIENT POEMS. 271 


race, had time to cultivate their native poetry- 
more, and to carry it to a higher pitch of refinement, 
4han any of -the reft. 

Their brethren the Anglo4axon poets occasionally 
©fed the fame kind of alliteration, and it is common to 
meet in their writings with fimilar examples of the fore- 
going rates. Take an inftance or two ia modern Cha- 
racters : (c) 

« £*eop tha and Skyrt&e « Btm and Acan&tl 

Stjfpindyurc" tfcofena rik«/* 

I know not however that there is any where extant an 
entire Saxon poem all in this meafure. But diftichs of 
this fort perpetually occur in all their poems of any 
length. 

Now, if we examine the verification of Pierce Plow- 
man' a Visions, we (hall find it conftruded exactly by 
thefe rules ; and therefore each tine, as printed, is ia 
reality a diftich of two verfes, and will, I believe, be 
found diftinguilhed as fuch, by fome mark or other in 
all the ancient MSS. viz. 

** In a Sbmer Seafon, | when * hot (d) was the Sonne, 
*' I Sbopz me int« Sbronbs, | as t a «S£epe were; 
" In fiabite as an Hairnet | unHoly of werkes, 
* IPent JPyde in thys world | bonders to heare, &c. 

So that the anthor of this poem will not be found to have 
invented any new mode of verfificatiop, as fbme have 
fuppofed, but only to have retained that of the old Saxon 
and Gothic poets ; which was probably never wholly 
laid afide, but occafionally ufed at different intervals : 

thtf 

(e) Ibid. 

(d) So I would read with Mr, Warton, rather than either ' foft,* 
at ia MS. or « fet/ as in PCC. 


vj% ANCIENT POEMS. 

tho' the ravages of time will not fuffer us now to pro- 
dace a regular feries of poems entirely written in it. -■ 
. There are fome readers, whom it may gratify to men- 
tion, that thefe Visions op Pierce [i. e. Peter] the 
^Plowman, are attributed to Robert Langland, a fecular 
prieft, born at Mortimer's Cleobury in Shropfhire, and 
fellow of Oriel college in Oxford, who flourifhed in the 
reigns of Ed ward III. and Richard II. and published his 
poem a few years after .1350. It confifb of xx Pass us or 
Breaks (e) y exhibiting a feries of vifions, which he pre- 
tends happened to him on Malvern hills in Worcefter- 
fiiire. The author excells in flrong allegoric painting, 
and has with great humour fpirit and fancy, centered 
znoft of the vices incident to the feveral profcllions of 
life ; but he particularly inveighs againft the corrup- 
tions of the clergy, and the abfurdities of fuperftition. 
Of this work I have now before me four different edi- 
tions in black letter quarto. Three of them are printed 
in 1 5 50 ftp Cofcertc CrctoHn otoetting in 4£l$t rented in tycU 
lurn*. It is remarkable that two of thefe are mentioned 
in the title-page as both of the fecond impreffion, tho' 
they contain evident variations in every page (f). The 
other is faid to be netolpe iniprpntcQ after tftt autfjor? oTbt 
tops . . • • ip 4toen ©OflCtf, Feb. 21. 1561. 

As Langland was not the firft, fo neither was he the 
lair that ufed this alliterative fpecies of verification • To 
Rogers's edition of the Vifions is fubjoined a poem, 

which 


(e) The poem properly contains xxi part*: the word pASstrs, 
adopted by the author, feems only to denote the break or divi/ion be* 
tween two parts, tho 1 by the ignorance of the printer applied to the 
parts themfelves. See vol. 3. preface to ballad III. where Pajfus 
feems to fignify Pattfe. 

(f) That which feems the firft of the two, is thus diftmguifl'ed 

in the title-page, notoe tfjc feconta tpme irnnrUitefc fcn fficfcrtr 
Crcttrfpe; the other thus, notoe t]je fecontte time imprinteti Bp 

titcbtltt £ rttUftp. In the former the folios are thus erroneowfly 
numbered 39, 39. 41. 63. 43. 42. 45. &c. The bookfeilers of thofe 
, days were not ofteatatious 6f multiplying editions. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 873 

f 

which Wzt probably writ in imiution of them, intitlcd 
Pierce thb Ploughman's Credb. It begins thus, 

u Crot, andCurteit Cbrift, this beginning fpede 

•* For the Faders Frendihipe, that Founned heaven, 

M And through the Special Spirit, that* fyrong of hem tweyne, 

44 And al in one godhed endles dwclleth." 

The author feigns himfelf ignorant of his Creed, to b« 
inftru&ed in which he applies to the four religious 
orders, viz: the gray friers of St. Francis, the black 
friers of St. Dominic, the Carmelites or white friers, 
and the Auguftines. This affords him occafion to de- 
fcribe in very lively colours the floth, ignorance, and 
immorality of thofe reverend drones. At length he 
meets with Pierce a poor Ploughman, who refolves 
his doubts, and inftructs him in the principles of true 
religion. The author was evidently a follower of 
Wiccliff, whom he mentions (with honour) as no 
longer living (g). Now that reformer died in 1384. 
How long after his death this poem was written, does 
not appear. 

In the Cotton library is a volume of ancient Englifh 
poems fhj, two of which are written in this alliterative 
metre, and have the divifion of the lines into diftichs 
diftin&ly marked by a point, as is ufual in old poeti- 
cal MSS. That which Hands firft of the two (tho* 
perhaps the lateft written) is intitled The seoe op 
r erlam, [i. e. Jerufalem], being an old fabulous 
legend compofed by fame monk, and fluffed with mar- 
vellous figments concerning the deftru&ion of the holy 
city and temple. It begins thus. 


" In Tyberius Tyme • the Trewe emperou* 
" Syr 5efar hymfelf . belted in Rome 


Vol. II. T "WhyH 

(l) Signature v f if, .(+) Caligula A' *j« «• »*• **$♦ 


aft A » C t £ N T I» O E M & 

'" Whyi! £yht ww .Provoflfe » under that Arjfoe rycl* 
« Art Jewe* ?uftice alio • Df^teiaadc 
•• tferode under tmpere • as iferytage wolde 

•f he other is wfdtled CHB*tt,**E A«*r*fcir X&t De 
Cignc], that is " The Knight «f ttefiwaiV' kei»fc an 
ancient Romance, beginning thas, 

• * 

" JPele be Wtreth his torke . 'JPiffcWft ottAe Mfttte 
M For ofte Jhhmict were Heate* that iKIpe wene1fiy&6 
* Kere the Jfyznes of Ifym * that lengetk-io #evfcrie * 
*« For this, &t. 

Ainoag^r /Garners colleft^ is af rofc 

iiarrative of the adventures of/t^is fame XjtTght of the 
Swan, €t n,ewly tranflated onVof JFrei&lhe into fioglyifoe* 

, *' at tjiihfligacion of the pavffaunt and illuftryou* 
u prynce, lorde Edward dukejof^ud^ighame*^ T)iis 
lord it Teems had a peculiar in tereft in the book, for 
in the -preface the, tranflator tells: us*; that this "Tiighe 

•V dyghe and illiiftryous pry rice iiy to'rcle Edwarde bf 
" the grace of god Duke of" B«ckyjighaiB, -erle of fic- 
« c refbrde, Stajforde. and NbrtfcaVptipn, defyryngc coty- 
" dyalty to eijcreaie and augrbent the name and faro? 
" of fuch as were reluceiit Li vertqqus feate* "and tri- 
«' umpliaunt a6l.es of chvvali^.aod to encourage aat 
€C ftyre every luftj and geti tell Tierte : by tke'exemply- 


t«u«i A/ugVf utuucu v/ijaiii) ivmcuuic; i*.jujugw j» 

" the parties of be,yonde tb? fea, ha^vynge 4* h|s wife 
" a noDle lady ; of whome ihe coaceyved fixe fonnes 
° and a daughter/ and chylded of them at one only 

fc#i 'Eme;. 

.f»;K.vok*fc 


AKTCtfcNT if O %Ut, *tS 

• c * # tiine; "«t wkofc bjrrthe ecthohe of -them litd a 
"chayc^afifyJfgr at their ntejsea, the whkhe weoe 
*' all toarned by the provydencc of god into whyte 
• f fwannes (fave one) of the whiche this prefent hyftory 
*' is compiled, n^amed Helyas, the knight or the 
*' fwanne, of whome linially is dyscendbd my 
*' saydb Loans. The which* ententifly to, have the 
*' fayde hyftory more amply and unyverfally knowen. 
•• in thys hys natif countrie, as it is in other, hath of 
<v hys hie bountie byfome of his faithful and trufli 
** fervaontes cohorted mi mayfter Wynkin de Worde 

•* (k) to pat the faid vertaons^iyftori inprynte at 

" whofe inftigacion and Airing I (Jtoberte Copland) 
" have me applied, moiening the helpe of god, to re* 
*' dace and tranflate k into 4wr maternal and vulgare 
" eqgliih tonge After the -eapacitc and rudenefle of 
• c jny wake entendement."— A -curiooa pi&are af 
the times I While in Italy lUe**t*ire and die file arts 
wore ready to botft forth wish -claffieal fplender fmdtf 
Leo X. the firft peer % of thia reabfc was } prOod to de- 
rive his pedigree from a fabulous knight of the 

SWAN (I). 

To return to the Metre of Pierce Plowman : In the 
folio MS* fo often quoted in thejfe volumes, are two 
poems written in &at fpeties of verification. One 
of thefe is an ancient allegorical poem, intitled Death 
and Liffb, (in-e^ttaorpaxtSy containing 458 diftichs) 
which, for ought that «ppeere, may have been written 
as early^ if not before, the time of Langhmd. The 
£rft forty lines are broke astheyJhanJdibeintti diftichs* 

Ta adif- 


(k) W.de Worde's edit, is in 151*. See Ames. p. o*. Mr. G*t 

copy is " f SfmprmWti atHmmon ftptte l tt£tt!am coalanft. 

(I) He is faid in the ftory-boqfc to be- the grandfather of God- 
frey of Boulogne, thro* whom I fugpofe the doke made out his 
relation to him. This doke was beheaded, May 27, 151 i. 13 He *» 
TIXU 


:*& A N C I E N T P O E M 5. 

•a diftin&ion that it neglefted in tWe remaining part 
of the poem, in order I fuppofe to fave room. It be- 
gin*, 

« CbAtt Cbnfati king, 

, that on Ale CroflTe tholcd $ 
lt Hadd Paints and Paifyons 

to defend our foules; 
tf Give us Grace on the Ground 

the Greatlye to ferve, 
" For that Aoyall Red blood 

that Aann from thy fide/* 

The fubjeft of this piece is a vifion, wherein the poet 
fees a conteft for fuperiority between " our lady Dame 
•*• life," and the " ugly fiend Dame death;" who 
with their feveral attributes and concomitants are pei<- 
fonified in a fine vein of allegoric painting. Part of 
the defcription of Dame Life rs, 

" Shee was .Brighter of her Ulee, 
then was the .Bright fonn ; 

* Her Audd Aedrfer then the Jtofe A 

that on the .Rife hangeth: 
« ATeekely fmiling with her A/outb, 

And JJferry in her lookei] 
f 9 Era .Laughing for Lore, 

at fliee Like would. 
M And at (hee came by the .Banket, 

the Boughet eche one 

* They Xowted to that Ladye, 

and Xrayd forth their branches} 
" Ittoflbmes, and Jfurgena 
breathed full fweetej 

* FUwsn 


4"N C1ENT PO E M S. Tjft 

" Flowers Jlouriihed in the Frith, 

where fhee Forth fteppcdj 
*' And the GrafTe, that was Gray, ; 

Greened belive." 

Death is afterwards fkctched oat with a nq lefs bold 
and original pencil. . 

The other poem is (hat, which is quoted in the 28th 
page of this volume*, * and Which was probably the laft 
that was ever written in this kind of metre in* its ori- 
ginal fimplicity unaccompanied with rhyme. It mould 
have been obferved above in pag. 28. that in this poem 
the lines are throughout divided into diilichs, thus :- 

Grant Gracious God, 

Grant me this time, ft*. 

It is intitled Scottish peildb (in 2 pitts, 420 di- 
ftichs,) containing a very circnmftantial narrative of 
the battle of Flodden, fought Sept. 9. IC13 : at which* 
the author feems to have been prefect from his speak- 
ing in the firft perfon plural, 

*? Then we Tlld downe our Tents, 
that Told were a thoufand." 

1 

In the conclufiqn of tjie poem l$e gives this account, 
pfhimfelf, 

f ' He was a Gentleman by Jfefu* 

that this Geft made ; 
« Which Say but as he Sayd (m) 

fojr Sooth and noe other* 

• (m) probably corrupted for—' Says but as he Saw.* 


jy£ AMCIIWT FORMS* 

« At Jagily that Jetnltf 

his hiding plao* hod; 
" And his ancaftort-of did timo- 

have yearded (*) theixt lonfe* 
41 Before William Conqueroor 

thh Canny did mhifaht. 
? Je/ua j?ring 'then fa/ to £iio% ' 

that J9ro\ight us forth of *Ats t 
« That hathffearkeaarmeifeare. 

Of Jfaa^Sfty lA||, n 

Tbe village of Bagtry orBagufeigbis Jit Chemire, an<J 
bad belonged to the ancient family of Lb oh for two 
centuries before the battle of Ffoddesn Indeed that 
the author was of that.ceunty appeacs 6mm other pat 
fages in the body of the poem, particularly from the 
pains he takca to wipe off a ftaia font the Cbeftute-men,, 
who. it feems ran away in that battle, and from, his en** 
comiums on the Stanleys earls of Derby, who uiually 
headed that county. He laments the death of James 
Stanley biihop of Ely,, as what hac}. recently happen c4 
when this poem was written : which ferves to ai^ertafn 
fa date, for that prelate dia4 March 22. i$>4-5* 

Thus have we traced the Alliterative Mearare fo low 
as the fifteenth century. I( is remarkable that alt 
fuch poets as ufed this kind of metre, retained along 
with it many peculiar Saxon idioms, particularly fuch 
as were appropriated to poetry ; this deferves the at* 
tendon of thofe, who were defirous to recover the 
laws of the ancient Saxon foefy, ufualty given up as 

" ' ■-■■ y ■ ia T 

(n) Yearded, i • 1, burltd, taHbt&s eatdfei* H is common to pro- 
nounce " Earth," In fome parts of England " Yeartn," particularly in 
the North.— Pitfcottic fpeaking of James III. ilain at Bannock* 
bourn, fart, " Nae man wot whar they YSAa&zP him.* 1 


ANCTENT POBMt ap 9 

mitptt^k: I son of opinio* that they. wiU 6*4 wfca* 
Aur fe&ia fat Metae of Pieces Plowman />;. 

A boot the beginning of the fateenth c&vtuty (Hm 
kind vrf ycfffiteMipft Began, to ejtange? iu focro : the 
author of Scottish Field, we fee, concludes his 
pmfc with a Couple* of BJiy met : thin wat an innoxa- 
Uftn, that did b$t prepare the way for the general 
adtoiifioii of thai mote aicddA otsajgaent ; till at lengta, 
die* old uncouth verfeof tha ancutat writers would no 
lpoget go down without it. Yet when, Rhy»* began to 
be Axperadded, aU the niceties of Alliteration were at 
AA retained along with it; and toe fang of Littl* 
JoBur Nobody exhibits this union very clearly. Bp 
decrees the correspondence of final founds en* 

S offing the whole attention of the poet and fully: 
tfffymg the reader, the: internal imbeilifta^Qtof AU 
liberation was no longer ftudied, and thus was this 
kind of metre at length fwaljowed up and loft in our 
common Burlefque Alexandrine, or Anapeftic yerfe (q) % 

now 

(p) And in that of Robert of Gloucester. See the next note. 

( <[) Confifting of four Anapefts ( o w -) in which the Accent 
reft*- upon every: third fyllable. This kind of Vetfe, which 
i ilfii. fall the Bufefoue Alexandrine (to diftingnifh, it front ' 
the othax Akxandrines of n and 14 fylJaUes* the patents o£ 
our lyric meafure x fee examples, »• 140. &c.) was. early ap- 
plied by Robert of Gloucefter to Serious (nbje&s* That writer** 
metre, like this of Langland'a, is formed on the Saxon mo- 
deb, (each verfe of his containing a Saxon diHich) only in* 
$ead of the internal Alliterations adopted by Langland, he rathe • 
chafo snal Rhymee, ay the French, posts nave done fiace. Take; 

f* The Saxons tho in ther power, tho thu were fe rive, 
" Sere kingdoms made in Engelonde, and Ait^ift b«* viyes 
. P The king of Vonfeombeitand, and 0/ Sa&analc alia, 
* « Of Kent, and of Weftfex, and of the March, therto." 

Robert of Olouceflcr wrote in the wtlfom aiajedt, and bit bn* 
gyage differs exceeding]!* ftom tf*at of pthft $Q&mvm& Waters, 

T* . who 


ftto ANCIENT POEMS. 

now never ufed bat in ballads and pieces of ligkt luu 
mour, as in the following Song of Conscience* «M 
in that well-known doggrel, 

" A cobler there was, and he lived in a flail." 

Bat although this kind of meafuvr* bath with as beeft 
thus degraded, it ftill retains among the French its 
ancient dignity : their grand Heroic Verfe of twelve 
fyllables (r) is the fame genuine offspring bftheold alli- 
terative metre of the ancient Gothic and Francic poets, 
ftript like oar Anapeftic of its alliteration, and orna- 
mented with rhyme : But with this difference, that 
whereas this kind of verfe hath been applied by as only 
to light and trivial fubje&s, to^which by its quick 
and lively meafure it feemed beft adapted, our Poets 
have let it remain in a more lax unconfined ftate, (s) 

as 


who rcfided in the metropolis or in the midland counties. Had the 
Heptarchy continued, our Engliih language would probably have been 
as much diftinguiihed for its different dialeds as the Greek j or at 
leaft as that of the feveral independent ftates of Italy. 

fr) Or of thirteen fyllables, in .what they call a feminine verfe. 
Jt is remarkable that the French alone have retained this old Gothic 
metre for their ferious poems $ while the Engliih, Spaniards, Ac. hare 
adopted the Italic verfe of ten fyllables, altho' the Spaniards, as well as 
we, anciently ufed a fliort lined metre. I believe the fuccefs with which 
Petrarch, and perhaps one or two others, 1 firft ufed the heroic verfe 
of ten fyllables in Italian Poefy r recommended it to the Spanish wri- 
ters; as it alio did to our Chaucer, who firft attempted it in Engliih ; 
and to hit fuccelfors Lord Surrey, Sir Thomas Wyat, Sec. $ who af- 
terwards improved it and brought it to perfection. To Ld. Surrey we 
alfo owe the firft introduction of Blank Verfe in his Verfions of the 
Eneid. 

(sX Thus our poets ufe this verfe indifferently with %2, i x, aa^even 
.10 fyllables. For though regularly it confifts of 4 Anapefts ( « « -) or 
twelve fyllables, yet they frequently retrench a fyllable from the firft 
or third Anapeft $ andtometimes from both; as in thefe inftancea 
from Peiox, and from the following Song of Conscience. , 

Wh5 hat eer beg* at Paris, moft needs knfo the* Greve, 
Th 2 f5t» rJ?trf at *fth* 3n fortunate brave. 
W flept t$ him ftriight, incl did him require* 


A N C I E N T POEMS. i$t 

as a greater degree of feverity and ftrictnefs would 
have been inconfiftent with the light and airy ftbjecfo 
. to which they have applied it. On the other hand, the 
French having retained this Verfe as the vehicle of 
their Epic and Tragic flights, in order - to give it a 
ttatelinefs and dignity were obliged to confine it to 
more exaft laws of Scanfion ; they have therefore li- 
mited it to the number of twelve Syllables ; and. by 
making the Caefura or Paufe as fall and diftintt 
as poffible 5 and by other fevere reftri&ions, have given 
it all the folemnity of which • it was capable* The 
harqaony of both however depends fo much on the 
fame flow of cadence and difpofal of the paufe, that 
they appear plainly to be of the fame original ; and 
every. French heroic verfe evidently confifts of the 
ancient Difiich of their Francic anceftors : which, 
by the way, will account to us why this verfe of the 
Frenth fo naturally refolves itfelf into two complet© 
hemiftics. And indeed by making the caefura or paufe 
always to reft on the 1 aft fy liable of a wor$}> and by 
making a kind -of paufe in the fenfe, the French poets 
do in effed reduce- their hemiftics to two diftinft and 
independent verfes : and fome of their old poets 'have 
gone fo far as to make the two hemiftics rhyme to each 
Qther (t). ^ 

After all, the old alliterative and anapeftic metre 
of the Englifh poets being chiefly ufed in a barbarous 
age, and in a rude unpoH&ed language, abounds with 
verfes defective in length, proportion, and harmony ; 
and therefore cannot enter into a comparifon with the 
correct verification of the beft modern French writers } 
but making allowances for thefe defects, that fort of 
metre 1 runs with a cadence fo exactly refcmbling the 
French heroic Alexa&drine, that I believe no peculia- 
rities of their verfification can be produced, which 

cannot 

(t) See Inftaqces in V H$. it la fotfu Fran foifi f>*r Ma* st% it, 5cc, 
In the fame book, are aifo Jpecimens of alliterative French Verfe*. 


iff* AKQIENT P O EM a 

cafcno* Ik etf t(ty mftctad in th* alterative moire. F 
ikallgive hy wax of example a few. Knea from the no- 
dero f reach paeta confronted with, parallels from she 
ancient poeqa.of Lira and Death.; in thefe I feaJi 
dtnotefthe Cstfitra or Paufe by a perpendicular line, and 
the Cadence by the mark* of the Latin quantity. 

LljSc&sflt toQjouri I Un trnfto* & T AiJJcs ; 

All (km drye with the* dints j that I deal with my hand}. 

V bfrm? first?* **it nip f rraxmnjist, 

YOadct dimst 1 h di*h | that drifs&h her t* finite. 

£' ?#*•$!# «*/< «*«* ( * 11 fjhtfmc frit t. 

When iM 4o^f uU^r aw | k*w <hSdw*dSwachirf*lk*. 

Mtme tfftx yeSx d? V Injufte \ un Tttjufte eft horrible \, 
Then U call up a cry* | to the high kin* Sf hpav&v 

Z>* mUnJongV toujoSrs \ W vrai Ahriiurt maitr?, 

Th5u ftalt bittHrJyc bye f «r elfe the booice f^ileth. 

■ PoXr farfttrt hdnntte tomme | ft ft *rfr, 1/ jCW /* Itre f r 
Thfoinfredthroughe'afVythe [ whJfrethg flowers were many e, 

To conclude ; the metre of Pierce. Plowman's Vifions 
has no kind of relation with what is commonly called 
Blank Vtrft ; yet has it a fort of harmony of its own, 
proceeding not fo much from its alJ iteration, as from 
the artful difpofal of its cadence, and the contrivance of 
its paufe. So that when the ear is a little ace u domed to 
it, it is by no means impleading ; but claims all the 
merit of the French heroic numbers, only far lefs po T 
iifhed ; being fweetened, inftead of their final rhymes^ 
jvith the internal recurrence of fimilar founds. 

The 

• Catalina* A* 3. f Bdlleau Sat, J Boll. Sat. iu 


; 


\ 


ANCIENT FOE MS. #3 

The following Song intitled The Complaint of 
Con 4 c is n<c ?, if printed from the Editor* s-fo.Ua Mcwv/cript .* • 
£wwe corruptions in the old Cofy are here corrtfiedi but not 
without natite ta the Reader, 'where it <was necejfitry^ by in- 
elofing the emreSims hetuam inverted ' Comma*. 9 

AS I walked of late by an wood fide, 
To God for to meditate was mine eaten* j- 
Where under an Hawthorne I fuddenlye fpyed 
A filly poore creature ragged and* rent, 
With" bloody ( tearea his face was beijvent, r 

> His fle£he and his color coniumed away, 
And his garments they were all mire, mucke, and clay. 

This made me mute, and much * to* defire 
To know what kind of man bee ftold bee ; 
I ftept to .him ftraight, and did him require io 

His name and his fecretts to fhew unto mee. 
His head he-call up, and wooful was hee, 
My name* quoth he, is the caufo of my care, 
And makes me loomed, and left here fo bare. 

Then ftraightway he tnrnd him, and prayd me fit downe, 
And I will, faithe he, declare my whole greefej i6j 
My name is 'called, CoirscrEKrcB : — wheratt he did 

frowne, \ 

He repined to repeate it, and grinded his teethe, 
* Thoughe now, fitty wretche, I'm denyed all releef,» 

* Yet* 


*8* ANCIENT 9QEJMS. 

• Yet* white I was young, and tender of yeeres, 2c} 
I was entertained with kinges, and with peeres. 

There was none in the court that lived in fnch fame, 
For with the kinges councell I fate in commiifion ; 
Dukes, earles, and barons efteem'd of my.Aame* 
And how that I liv'd there, needs no repetition : 25 
I was ever holden in honeft condition, 
For how-e*er the lawes went in Weftminfter-hall, 
When fentence was given, for me they wold call* 

No incomes at ail the landlords wold take, 
But one pore peny, that was their fine ; 301 

And that they acknowledged to be for my fake. 
The poore wold doe nothing without councell mine ; 
I ruled the world with the right line : 

For nothing < ere' pafled betweene foe and friend, 
. Stit Confcknce was called to bee at the end, 35 

* r »■ 

Noe bargaine, nor merchandise merchants wold make 

But I was called a witnefie therto : 

No ufe for noe money, nor forfeit wold take, 

But I wold controule them, if that tfrey did foe : 

' And' that makes me live now in great woe, 4^ 

For then came in Pride, Sathan's difciplc, 
. That is now entertained with all kind of people. 

tfe brought with him three, whofe names ' thus they call* 
That is Covetopfnes, Lccherye, Ufury, befidc ; 

Tbey 


ANCIENT POEM 9. *8$ 

They never prevailed, : till theywroughtmydowne-fallj 4$ 
Soe Pride was entertained* bat Confcienoe decried, 
And * now ever fince' abroad have I tryed 

To have had entertainment with fome one or other ; 

But I am rejected, and fcorned' of my brother. 

Then went 1 to Court the gallants to wlnne» - 50 

Bat the porter kept me out of the gate ; 
To Bartlemew Spittle to pray for my finne, 
They bade me goe packe, itt was fit for my ft'ate | 
Goe,goe, thread- bare Con feience, and feeketheeamate* 
Good Lord, long preferve my king, prince, and queene, 
With whom I ever efteemed have been. 56 

Then went I to London, where once I did * dwell*: 
But they bade away with me, when they knew my name ; 
For he will undoc us to bye and to fellj! 
They bade me goe packe me, and hye me for mame; 60 
They laught at my raggs, and there had good game ; 

This is old thread- bare Confcience, that dwelt with 
faint Peter : 

But they wold not admit* me to be a chimney- fweeper. 

Not one wold receive me, the Lord he doth know; 
I having but one poor pennye in my purfe, (5$ 

On an awle and fome patches I did it bellow ; 
For I thought better cobble {hoes than to doe worfe : 
Straight then all the coolers began for to curfe, 


And 


486 ANCIENT P0£ M.S. 

* 

Ana by ftjftirte wtohi prove me a tagse, and fbiiorne* 
A|id whipp arc oat cf towne to&eke where I was 
borne* 70 

Then did I remember, and eali to my miade* 

The Court of Confcience where once I did fit, 

Not doubting butXbere t (favor flmM 'find, 

Sith my name and the plage agwed fee £t ; 

Bu t fure of wy y iw^pdfe I feyied m whit, 7; 

For * though*' the judge ut*d my tumie in^evcry een- 
jniftkm* 

The lawyer* withtheirqmittm w*Idg*t wy JUfiniffion. 

Then Weftminfter-hall was no place for me ; 
Good lord L how the Lawyers began ttoftfembk. 
And fearfull they. were, left there I mold hoe! Jo 

The filly poore olarkes b^ganfor to tremble; 
I mowed them my caufe, and did not dkflcmble ; 
Soe they garc me fome money my chafes to beats, 
Bat fwore me on a booke Lmuft never come theztf« 

Next the Merchants (aid. Conn terfeite, get thee away, 85 

Doft thou remember how we thee fond ? 

We haniiht thee the country beyond the *faltXca* 

.And iett thee on ihore in the New4bund land»; 

And there thou and wee moil friendly. ihook,hand, 
And we were right. glad when thoadidfr xeiufe ns,; 90 
For when we wold reape here thou woldft aecnie ns. 

Thea 


•Then had I noe way, but ftfr to go on 
To <5ent&nitens htralfe of *n *wcyent name* 
Declaring my grcefFes, and there I made moane, 
Telling IttJtr tfceir fore&thfcrs h«M me in fanie : 55 
And at letting their fattnes ' irow always I came*. 
They fayd, Fye trpbn thee! we may tKee curte : 
Theire feaft* xanthine, and we fare the worfe. 

And then I was Farced * begging to goe 
^V> ; hulbaTrdmens hottfe*, who grewed Hjght fate, 100 
And fware that their landlords had plagued them foe, 
Thet they were -not *b?e to kttfpe open dore, 
Nor nothing had left to give to the poore : 
therefore to this wood I doe me repay re, 
Where hepps and hawes, it is my beft fare. *io$ 

Yet within this fame defert fome comfort I have 

Of Utertye, bf Rttye, ah4 of Almtes-deeds ; 

Who have vowed to company me to my grave* 

^vVSre aH ptft tb fifehce, ancHive uyon weeds, 

4 And hence fuch cold hoafe-keeping proceeds 9 : 1 10 

Giir bamflunfent is ka utter decay, 

The which the riche glutton will anfwer one day*. 

Why then, I faid to him, me-thinks it were beft 
To goe to the-Ofcigie ; Wr daylie they Jpreach 
Eche man to love y*>o attWfe 1 *!! tfce tcfft ; 115 

Of Mercye and Pktye and Armes^iSetdsthey teache. 
O, faid he, noe matter a $n k WHati!hey ©reacht, 

4 For 


*SS ANCIENT POEMS. 

For their wives and their children foe hjmge them upotf* 
That whofoever give* alms they will * give none. 

Then laid he him down, and turned him away* 120 
And prayd me to gpe 9 and leave him to reft* 
I told him* I haplie might yet fee the day 
For him and his fellowes to live with the beft. 
Firft, faidhe, banifti Pride, then England were bleft; 
For then thofe wold love us, that now fell their land, 1 2$ 
And then good honfe-keeping wold revive oat of hand. 

* Wt ought \n jufiict aad truth to read ' caa% 


n. 

* - • t 

PLAIN TRUTH, AND BLIND IGNORANCE* 

This excellent old ballad is preferred in the little ancient 
mifalUny intitled, " The Garland of Goodwill."— Igno- 
rance is here made to /peak in the broad Somef/etjbire di&- 
left. Tbe/cene we mayfuppofe to be Glmftonbury Abbey. 

Truth. 

GO D fpeed you, ancient father. 
And give you a good daye 5 
What is the caufe* I praye you. 
So fadly here yon, ftaye ? 

And 


A N C I E N T P O E M S. 2S0 

And that you keep fuch gazing t 5 

On this decayed place, 
The which, for fuperftition, 

Good princes dowto did raze? 

Ignorance. 
Chill tell thee, by my vazen # , 

That zometimes che have knowne 10 

A vair and goodly abbey 

Stand here of bricke and done ; 
And many a holy vrier, 

As ich may fay to thee, 
Within thefe goodly cloy Hers ( 

Che did full often zee. 15 

Truth, 
Then I mall tell thee, father, 

In truthe and veritie, 
A forte of greater hypocrites 

Thou couldft not likely fee ; 20 

Deceiving of the Ample 

With falfe and feigned lies : 
But fuch an order truly ^ 

Chrift never did devife. 

Ignorance. 
Ah ! ah ! che zmell thee now, man ; < 25 

Che know well wljfct thou art ; 
Vol. II. , U ' Avel- 

.? *'• «■ faitben: as in the Mijlabd ceurttw thy fo hitfm, chjtn t fir 
btufes, chje%. A. 


* 9 o ANCIENT POEMS, 

A vellow of mean learning, 

Thee was not worth a vart : 
Vor when we had the old lawe, 

A merry world was then ; 30 

And every thing was plenty 

Among all zorts of men. 

« 

Truth. 
Thou giveft me an anfwer, 

As did the Jewes fometimes 
Unto the prophet Jeremye, 3$ 

When he.accas'd their crimes : 
'Twas merry, fayd the people, 

And joyfall in oar rea'me, 
When we did offer fpice-cakes 

Unto the queen of heav'n. 4* 

Ignorance. 
Chill tell thee what, good vellowe, 

Before the vriers went hence, 
A bufliell of the beft wheate 

Was sold vor voarteen pence; 
And vorty egges a penny, 4; 

That were both good and newe ; 
And this che zay my zelf have zeene> 

And yet ich am no Jewe. 

T*vth. 
Within' the facred bible 
Wt find it written plain, 50 

The 


ANCIENT POEM4 z 9 t 

The latter days Jhoold troufelefome . 

And dangerous be, ceitaaae ; 
That we Should be fetf-lovers, 

And charity wax colde ; 
Then 'tis not true religion ' 55 

That makes thee grief to hoick. 

Ignoranqe. / 

. Chill tell thee my opinion plakie, 

And choul'd that well ye knewe, 
Ich care not for the bible booke ; 

Tis too big to be .true. 60 

Our blefled ladyes pfalter 

Zhall for my money goe ; 
Zuch pretty prayers, as there bee*, 
The bible cannot zhowe. 

Nowe haft thou Tpoken trulye* 65 

For in that book indeede 
No mention of our lady, 

Or Romifh faint we read : 
For by the bleiTed Spirit 

That book indited was, 70 

And not by limple perfons, 

As was the foolifli mafle,. 

tJ 2 Igno* 

* Prtbably illu&inz t$ the illuminated PJgl(m f MiJ*h> 8u 


% 9 t ANCIENT- 'P O.E M S. 

Ignorance. 
Cham zarc they were not vooliihe 

That made the maffe, che trowe : 
Why, man, 'tis all in Latine, 75 

And vools no Latine knowe. 
Were not our fathers wife men. 

And they did like it well ; 
Who very much rejoyced 

To heare the zacring bell ? $0 

Truth. 
Bat many kinges and prophets, 

As I may fay to thee, 
Have wiflit the light that you have, 

And could it never fee : 
For what art thou the better 8c 

A Latin fong to heare, 
And underftandeft nothing, 

That they fingin the quiere? 

Ignorance. 
O hold thy peace, ,che pray thee, - 

The noife was paffing trim 90 

To heare the vriers zinging, 

As we did enter in : 
And then to zee the rood-loft 

Zo bravely zet with zaints ;— 
But now to zee them wandring ... 95 

My heart with zorrow vaints. 

Truth* 


1 


ANCIENT POEMS. 293 

Truth. 
The Lord "did give commandment, 

No image thou fhouldft make, 
Nor that unto idolatry « 

You mould your felf betake : 160 

The golden calf of Ifrael * 

Mofes did therefore fpoile ; 
And Baal's pridb and temple 

Were brought to utter foile. , / 

* •* 

Ignorance. - \ 

But our lady -of Walfinghame , 105 

Was a pure and holy zaint, 
And many men in pilgrimage 

Did (hew to her complaint ; \ 

Yea with zweet Thomas Becket, 

And many other xnoe ; 1 xo 

The holy maid of Kent * likewife 

Did many wonders zhowe. « 

Truth* 
Such faints are well agreeing 

To your profeffion fure ; 
And to the men that made them 115 

So precious and fo pure ; 
The one for being a traytoure, 
Met an untimely death ; 

U3 The 


* Bf name £/»*• Barm, executed Ap+ 21. 15 34. Stow, p. 570. 


A I 


294 ANCIENT POEMS. 

The other eke for treafon 
Did end her hateffel breath. 120 

Ignorancb. 
' Yea, yea, it is no matter, 

Difpraife them how yon wille r 
But znre tliey did much goodnefle ; 

Would they were with os ftille ! 
We had our holy water, 115 

And holy bread likewife, 
And many holy reliqnes 
* We zaw before our eyes. 

, Trvth. 

And all this while they fed yon 

With vain aod empty ftowc, 1 jo 

Which never Chrift commanded* 

As. learned doctors knowe : 
Search then the holy fcriptures, 

And thou (halt plainly fee 
That headlong to damnation 13; 

They alway trained thee. " 

IoifOftAtfCtf* 

If it be true, good vellowe* 

As thou doft 2 ay to mee* 
Unto my heavenly fader 

Alone then will I flee : 140 


Be- 


J 


ANCIENT POEMS. 195 

Believing in the Gofpel, 

And paflion of his ion, 
And with the zubtil papiftes 

ich have for ever done. 


£ 


IB. 
THE WANDER. ING JEW. 


The ftory of the Wandering Jew is of confiderable ann- 
uity : it bad obtained full credit in this part of the world 
tfore the year 1 228, as we learn from Mat* Paris* For 
in that year, it feems 9 there came an Armenian archbijhop 
into England* to <vifit tbejhrines and reliques preferred in our 
<burcbes ; who being entertained at the monaftery of St. Al- 
bans > ivas ajked federal queftions relating to his country , &c. 
Among the reft a monk, who Jot near him, inquired " if be 
" had ever feen or heard of the famous perfon named Jofeph, 
" that was fo much talked of. ; who was prefent at our Lord's 
4€ crucifixion and converfed with him, and who was ft ill alive 
u in confirmation of the Chriftian faith" The archbijhop 
anjwered, That the fa£l was true. And afterwards one of 
his train, who was well known to afer-vant of the abbot's, 
interpreting his mafter i s words, told them in French, " That 
his lord knew the perfon they fpoke of very well : that he bad 
dined at his table but a little while before he left the Baft : 
that he had been Pontius Pilate* s porter y by name Cartapbi- 
lus ; who, when they were dragging Jefus out of the door of 
the Judgment-ball, ftruck him with hisfift on the back, fay 

U 4 ing, 


t 9 6 ANCIENT POEMS, 


99 


ing, u Go /after, Jefus, go f after ; why doft thou linger P 
Upon which Jefus looked at him with a frown and /aid, 
" / indeed am going, but tboujhalt tarry till I come J 9 Soon 
after be was converted, and baptized by the name of Jo- 
fepb. He lives for ever, but at the find of every hundred 
years falls into an incurable illnefs, and at length into aft 
or ecftafy, out of which when he recovers, he returns to the 
fame ft ate of youth be was in whin Jefus fuffered, being 
then about 30 years of age* He remembers all the circum- 
fiances of tie death and refurre&ion ofCbrift, the faints that 
arofe with him, the compofeng of the apoftles creed, their 
preaching, and difperfion ; and ishimfelfa very grave and 
hohf per/on ." This is the fubftance of Matthew Paris 9 * ac- 
count, who tvas himfelf a monk of St* Albans, and was 
living at the time when this Armenian arcbbifhop made the 
above relation. 

Since bis time fever al impoftors have appeared at intervals 
under the name and character of the W a ndering Jew; 
nubofe feveral biftories may befeen in Calmet J s dictionary of 
the Bible. See alfo the Turkijh Spy, Vol. 2. Book 3. Let. 1. 
Theftory thai is copied in the following ballad is of one, who 
appeared at Hamburgh in 1 547, and pretended he had been a 
Jewijb jhoemaker at the time of Cbrift's crucifixion. — The 
ballad 'however feems to be of later date. It is printed 
from a black-letter copy in the Pepys collection. 


WHEN as in fairc Jerufalem 
Our Saviour Chrift did live, 
And for the fins of.all the worlde 

His own deare life did give ; 
The wicked Jewes with fcoffes and fcornes 5 

Did dailye him moleft, 
That never till he left his life, 
Our Saviour could not reft. 

When 


ANCIENT POEMS. 297 

When they had crown'd his head with thornes, 

And fcourg'd him to difgrace, j 

In fcornfull fort they led him forehe 

Unto his dying place ; 
Where thoufand thoufands in the ftreete 

Beheld him pa/Te along, 
Yet not one gentle heart was there, jr 

That pityed this his wrong. 

Both old and young reviled him, 

As in the ftreete he wente, 
And nought he found but churlifh tauntes, 

By every ones confente : » 20 

His owne deare croffe he bore himfelfe, 

A burthen far too great, 
Which made him in the ftreet to fain te, 

With bipod and water fweat, . 

Being weary thus, he fought for reft, . 2$ 

To eafe his burthened foule, 
Upon a ftone ; the which a wretch 

Did churlifhly controule ; 
And fayd, Awaye, thou king of Jewes, 

Thou fhalt not reft thee here ; 30 

Pafs on ; j thy execution place 

Thou feeft nowe draweth neare. 


And thereupon he thruft him thence ; 
At which our Saviour fayd, 


Ifure 


2 9 f ANCIENT POEMS. 

I fare will reft, but thoo fhalt walke, 3; 

And have no journey flayed. 
With that this corfed Ihoemaker, 

For offering Chrift this wrong, 
Left wife and children, houfe and all, 

And went from thence along. 40 

Where after he had feene the blonds . 

Of Jefus ChritVthus fhed, 
And to the crofle his bodye nail*d, 

Awaye with fpeed he fled 
Without returning backe again* 45 - 

Unto his dwelling place, 
And wandred up and downe the workle, 

A runnagate moil bafe. 

No retting could he finde at all, 

No eafe, nor hearts content ; 50 

. No houfa, nor home* noi 1 biding place : 

But wandring forth he went * 

From towne to towne in foreigne landes, 

With grieved confcience frill, 
Repenting for the heinous guilt 5> 

Of his fore.paffied ill. 

Thus after forae fewe ages paft 

Jn wandring up and downe ; 
lie much again defired to fee 

Jerufalems renowne, 60 

But 


ANCIENT POEMS. 299 

But finding it all quite deftroyd, 

He wandred thence with woe, 
Our Saviours wordes, which he had (poke, 

To verefie and fhowe. 

" I'll reft, fayd hee, but thon (halt walke," 6z 

So doth this wandring Jew 
From place to place, but cannot reft 

Fer feeing countries newe ; 
Declaring ftill the power of him, 

Whereas he comes or goes, 70 

And of all things done in the eaft, 

Since Chrift his death, he (howes. 

The world he hath (till compaft round 

And.feene thofe nations ftrange, 
That hearing of the name of Chrift, 7; 

Their idol gods doe change : 
To whom he hath told wondrous thinges 

Of time forepaft, and gone, 
And to the princes of the worlde 

Declares his caufe of moane : 80 

Defiring ftill to be diffolv'd, 

And yeild his mortal breath ; 
But, if the Lord hath thus decreed, 

He (hall not yet fee death* 
For neither lookes he old nor young, 85 

But as he did thofe times* 

When 


1 

L 


3CO ANCIENT POEMSL 

* 

When Chrift did fuffer on the crofle 
For mortall finners crimes. 


He hath paft through many a foreigne place, 

Arabia, Egypt, Africa, 90 

Grccia, Syria, and great Thrace, 

And throughout all Hungaria : 
Where Paul and Peter preached Chrift, 

Thofe bleft apoftles deare ; 
There he bath told our Saviours wordes, 95 

In countries far, and neare. 

And lately in Bohemia, 

With many a German towne ; 
And now in Flanders, as tis thought, 

He wandreth up and downe : > 100 

Where learned men with him conferre 

Of thofe his lingering dayes, 
And wonder much to heare him tell 

His journeyes, and hit waves* 

If peopfe give this Jew an almes, 105 

The moft that he will t^ke 
Is not above a groat a time : 

Which he, for Jefus' fake, 
Will kindlye give unto the poore, 

And thereof make no fpare, 100 

Affirming ftill that Jefus Chrift 

Of him hath dailye care. 

He 


A.KCIE N,T POEM S. 301 

He ne'er was feene to laugh nor (mile, 
" Bat weepe and make great moanc ; 
Lamenting if ill his miferies, 115 

And dayes forepart and gone : 
If he heare any one blafpheme, 

Or take God's name in vaine, 
He ttlles them that they crucifie 

Their Saviour Chrifte againe. 120 

If you had feene his death, faith he, 

As thefe mine eyes have done, 
Ten thoufand thoufand times would yee 

His torments think upon <: 
And fuffer for his fake all paine 125 

Of torments, and all woes. 
Thefe are his wordes and eke his life 

Whereas he comes or goes. 


IV. 
THE LYE, 

By sir Walter. Raleich, 

— is found in a very fear ce mifcellany infilled *' Davifojfj 
" Poems, or apoeticgllRapfodie divided into Jixe booh 


30* ANCIENT POEMS. 


«c 

€1 


•• The qtb impreffion newly corre3ed and augmented, and 
put into a forme more pleafing to the reader. Lond. 1621. 
1 2*0." 7 bis poem is reported to have Been written by 
its celebrated author the night before his execution, 03. 29. 
161 8. But this muft be a miftake,for there 'were at leaft 
two editions of Da e vifon > s poems before that time, one in 
^1608 * .* the other in 1611 f . So that unlefs this poem 
nuas an after-infertion in the 4th edit, it muft have been 
•written long before the death of Sir Walter : perhaps it was 
eempofed foon after his condemnation in 1603. See lays* e 
life of Sir IV. Raleigh % pag. 173. fol f 

GOE, foule, the bodies gueft, 
Upon a thankelefie arrant ; 
Feare not to touche the belt, 
The truth (harl be thy warrant : 

Goe, fince I needs muft dye, 5 

And give the world the lye* 

Goe tell the court, it glowes 

And ftiines like rotten wood ; 
Goe tell the church it ihowes 
What's good, and doth no good : 10 

If church and court reply, 
Then give them both the lye. 

Tell potentates they live 

A&ing by others aftions ; 
Not lov'd unlefle they give, 15 

Not ftrong bat by their factions ; 


P Catalog. o/T. RaivVwfon X727. 

\ Ckt. o/Sion coll. library. This is either lofl or mi/laid. 


if. 


ANCIENT -POEMS. 30J 

If potentates reply, 
Give potentate's the lye* 

Tell men of high condition, 
That rale affairs of ftate, *o 

» Their purpofe is ambition, 
Their praftife onely hate ; 
And if they once reply, 
Then give them all the lye* 

Tell them that brave it moft, 25 

They beg for more by fpending, 
Who in their greateft coft 
Seek nothing bat commending ; 
And if they make reply, 
Spare not to give the lye. 30 

Tell zeale, it lacks devotion ; 

Tell love it is but laft ; 
Tell time, it is but motion ; 
Tell flefli, it is but duft ; 
And wifli them not reply, 35 

For thou muft give the lye. 

« 

Tell age, it daily wafteth ; 

Tell honour, how it alters ; 
Tell beauty, how fhe blafteth ; 

Tell favour, how ihe falters ; .4° 

6 And 


1 


3 04 ANCIENT POEMS. 

And as they (hall reply, 
Give each of them the lye. 

Tell wit, how much it wrangles 
In tickle points of niceneiTe ; 
Tell wifedome, (he entangles 45 

Herfelfe in over-wifeneffe ; 
And if they do reply, 
Straight give them both the lye* 

Tell phyficke of her boldnefle ; 

Tell fkilJ, it is pretention ; 50 

Tell charity of coldnefs ; 
Tell law, it is contention ; 
And as they 'yield reply, 
So give them ftill the 1yd. 

Tell fortune of her blindneiTe ; 55 

Tell nature of decay ; 
Tell friendfhip of unkindnefle ; 
Tell juftice of delay : 
And if they dare reply, 
Then give them all the lye. 60 

Tell arts, they have no foundneffe, 

But vary by efteeming ; 
Tell fchooles, they want profoundnefTe, 

And ftand too much on feeming : 


If 


ANCIENT POEMS. 305 

If arts and fchooles reply* 6£ 

Give arts and fchooles the lye. 

Tell faith, it's fled the citie 5 

Tell how the countrey erreth ; 
Tell, manhood fhakes off pitie ; 
Tell, vertue leaft preferreth : 70 

And, if they doe reply, 
Spare not to give the lye. 

So, when thou haft, as I 

Commanded thee, done blabbing, 
Although to give the lye 75 

Deferves no lefs than ftabbing, 
Yet ftab at thee who will. 
No ftab the foule can kill* 


V. 

VERSES BY KING JAMES I, 



Vol. II. 


|0 * ANCIENT POEMS. 

amhhling commendation in profit and that fame ob/equious 
eburt-rhymer put tbtm into metre * ; it <was thought proper 
to exchange them for two Sonnets of K. James's own 
eompofitiou. James was a great e verffier 9 and therefore out 
of the multitude of his poems, wr hart Sen JHethd tow, 
which (to jbew our impartiality) are written he his befi 
and his worft manner, fhe firfi would not difhonout any 
writer of that time; the ftcond it a mft complete example 
of the Bathos. 

A Sonnet addrissed by -King James to his 

son Prince Henry: 

From K. James's works in folio : W&aro U ai/o printed 
another called his Majefifs own Sonnet; it <u&nld per- 
haps he too' cruel to infer from thence that this it/as not 
his Majeftfs own Sonnet.. 

GOD gives not kings the Ail* of G«*fc in vaine, 
For on his throne his fcepter 4o tfeey ftrey : 
And as their fubjedls ought them to obey, 
So kings lhould feare and ferve their God againc. 

If then ye would enjoy a happie reigne, 
Obferve the ftatutes of oar heavenly king ; 
And from hjs law make all your laws to fpring ; 

Since his lieutenant here yd lhould remaine. 

Rewftrde tite jufc, be ftedfatt, trot and piame; 

Reprefle the proad, maintayning aye the right; 
• Waike always fv, as ewer ki His <gfet, 
Who goardws the godly, plaguing the prophage. 


Aft* 


. • Jko+£oHo Int'itkd «Tte Mufn vfidcome to Kingjamttr" 


ANCIENT POEMS. $6f 

And fo ye fhall in princely vertues fhine, 
Refembling right your mightie king divine* 


A Sonnet occasioned by the bad Weather 

WHICH HINDRED THE SpORTS AT NEW- 

market in January 1616. 

f 

\ 

*fbis is printed from Drtmmvndef Hanuibarndef? s nmrks\ 
folio : where alfo may be feenjbme wer/es of Lord Stirling's 
upon this Sonnet f wbitb toncludu initb tbejintft Anticlimax 
I refnember to bwvefnn* 

^— • 

HOW cruelly thefe catives do confpire ? 
What loathfome love breeds fuch a baleful band 
Betwixt the cantered king of CreU land *, 
That ihelancholy old and angry fire, 

And him, who wont to quench debate and ire f 

Among the Romans, when hii ports were clos'd f r 
But now his double face is Hill dlfpos'd, 

With Saturn's help, to freeze us at the fire. 

The earth ore-dovered witit a fheet of fhowj 
Refufes food to fowl, to bird and bead : i§ 

The chilUng cold lets every thing to grow* 
And forfeits cattle with a ftarving feaft. 

Curs'd be that love and mought J continue Abort, 

Which kills all creatures, and doth fpoil our fport; 

It t VI. K. 

* Saturn, f Jmrnt, ) & A IMp ft* 


• 3*8 ANCIENT POEMS. 


VI. 
K. JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY. 

The common popular ballad of Kikg John and the 
abbot feem to have been abridged and modernized about, 
the time of James I. from one much older, intitled "Kino 
" John and the Bishop of Canterbury." The 
Editor's folio MS. contains a copy of this loft, but in to* 
corrupt a ftate to be reprinted ; it however afforded many 
lines worth reviving, which will be found in/ertid iu the 
enfuing fianxas. 

The archnefs of the following queftions and anjwers bath 
been much admired by our eld ballad-makers ; for befides 
the two copies above mentioned, there is extant another bal- • 
lad on the fame fubje&, (but of no great antiquity or merit J 
intitled, " King Olfrby and the Abbot *." Lafly, 
about the time of the civil wars, when the cry ran 
againfi the Bijbops, fome Puritan worked up the fame 
ftory into a very doleful ditty, to a folemn tune, concerning 
" King Henry and a Bishop/ 9 with this flinging 

" Unlearned men bard matters out can find, 
" When learned bijbops princes eyes do blind" 

The 

• See tbi eolUSkm of Hifi. Xalladt, j vol. 17*7. Mr. Wift f*p- 
fofit Olfrsy t$ ho a corruption of Air* id, in kit fenfhUt 
ctrniwg tkoVTniTM Hon* in Berkjbktg p, 15, 


ANCIENT P O.E M S. • 309 


$*be following is chiefly printed from an ancient black* 
letter copy, to '* The tune of Derry down." 

AN ancient ftoty lie tell you anon 
Of a notable prince, that was called king Jokn; 
And he ruled England with maine and with might, 
For he did great wrong, and maintein'd little right* 

And He tell you a (lory, a ftory Co merrye, j 

Concerning the Abbot of Canterbu rye ; 
How for his houfe-keeping, and high renowne, 
They rode pofte for him to fair LQndon towne. 

An hundred men, the king did heare fay, 

The abbot kept in his honfe every day ; 10 

And fifty golde chayaes, without any doubt, 

In velvet coate* waited the abbot about. 

How now, father abbot, I heare it of thee, 

Thou keepeft.a farre better hoofe than mee, 

And for thy houije~keeping and high renowne, 15 

iieare thou.work'ffc treafpn againft my crown* 

My liege, quo' the abbot, I would it were knowhe, 
I never fpend nothing, but what is my owne ; 
And I trull, your grace will doe me no deere, 
For fpendipg of my owne twrgotten geere. zo 

X 3 Yes, 


jro ANCIENT POXMS., 

Yes, yes, father abbot, thy fault it is highe, 
And now for the fame thou needeft muft dye ; 
For except thou, canft anfwer me qucftions three, 
Thy head fall be finkte* from thy feodie. . 

And firft, quo* the king* when Pro m this ftead* z.g 
With my crowne of gofde fo fair* on my head. 
Among aft my liege-men (6 noble of hfrfhe, 
Thou muft tell me to one penny what I am wore he. 

Sfcondlye, tflU me* without any doubt, 
How foone I may ride the whole world about ; jo 

And at the third queffcion thou mud not (brink, 
But tell me here truly what I do think. 

O, thefe are hard queftkmt for my Shallow wkt, 
Nor I cannot anfwer your grace as yet ; 
But if you will give me but three wcekes fpace, . j| 
He do my epdeavour to anfwer your grace; 

Now three weeds fpate to thee will I girt, 

And that is the longeft time thou haft to live ; 

Fo* if thou do& not anfwer my queftkmr three* 

Thy lands and thy livings are forfeit to ntee. 40 ' 

Away rode the abbot all fad at that word, 
And he rode to Cambridge, and Qxtnford; 
But never a dofior there was fb wife, . 
That could with his Jearniagt&a anfwer devifc. 


ANCIINT POEMS, ju 

Then home to^e the abfett 0# comfort fo cold, 45 

And he men his Atphoard a gotog to ft! d : 
How sow, my lortt ifebot, yo* ar* welcome home $ 
What newes do yon bring 119 from good Hug John ? 

" Sad n*w£», fad newes, fhepheard, I muft give ; 
That I have but thtee days more to live : 50 

For ifl do not anfiver him quefttons' three, 
My head will be fthitten from my bodW. 

The firft b to tell him there in that ftead, 
With .his crowne of golde fo fair on his head, 
Among all his tfege men fo noble of birth \ 5^ 

To within, one penny of what he is worth. 

The fejeonde, to tell him, without any doubt, 
How foone he may ride this whole world about ? 
And at the third queftion I mull not fhrinke, 
But tell him there truly what he does thin he." 66 

Kow cheare np, fire abbot, did you never hear yet, 
That a fool he may learn a wife man wftt f 
Lend me horfe, and ferving men, and your apparel, 
And I'll ride to London to anfwere your quarrel. 

Nay frowne not, if it hath bin told unto mee, 6$ 

1 am like your lordftiip, as ever may bee : 

And if you will but lend me your gowne, 

There is none fhall knowe us at fair London towne. 

X4 ' Now 


312 ANCIENT POEMS, 

No^ horfes, and fcrving-men thou, (halt have, 
With fumptuous array moft gallant and brave ; jq 
With crozier, and miter, and rochet, and cope, 
Fit to appeare 'fore oar fader the pope," 

$fow welcome 9 fire abbot, the king he did fay, 

'tis well thou'rt come back to keepe thy day ; 

For an if thou canffc anfwer my queftions three, 75 

Thy life and thy living both faved ihall bee. 

And firfr, when thou feeft me here in this ftead, 
With my crown of golde fo fair on my head, 
Among all my liege-men fo noble of birthe, 
Tell me to one penny what I am worth, 99 

• 

" For thirty pence our Saviour was fold 
Amonge the falfe Jewes, as I have bin told ; 
And twenty nine is the worth of thee, 
For I thinke, thou art one penny worfer than hec," 

The king he laughed, and fwore by St. Bittcl *, 85 
I did not think I had been worth fo littel ! 
—Now fecondly tell me, without any doubt, 
How foone I may ride this whole world about, 

• 

" You muft rife with the fun, and ride with the fame. 
Until the next morning he rifeth againe ; 90 

And 

• Muning probably St, Bctolfb* 


ANCIENT POEMS. 313 

And then your grace need not make any doubt, 
But in twenty-four hours you'll ride it about." 

The king he laughed, and fwore by St. Jone, 
I did not think, it could be gone fo foone ! 
—Now from the third quelHon thou mull not (hrinke, 
But tell me here truly what 1 do thinke. g6 

«' Yea, that (hall I do, and make your grace merry : 
You thinke Pm the abbot of, Canterbury ; 
Bat Pm his poor fhepheard, as plain you may fee, 
That am come to beg pardon for him and for mee." 100 

The king he laughed, and fwore by the maiTe, 
lie make thee lord abbot this day in his place ! 
«' Now naye, my liege, be not in fuch fpeede, 
For alacke I can neither write, ne reade." 

Four nobles a weeke, then I will give thee, 105 

For this merry jeft thou haft fhowne unto mee; 
And tell the old abbot when thou comeft home, 
Thou haft brought him a pardon from good king John, 


VIL YOU 


I 


j$4 ANCIENT POEMS. 


vn. 


YOU MEANER BEAUTIES, 


This Uttk Soanet ttias written it Str&tn*.* Wott»k 
Knight, on that amiable Princefs, Elizabeth daughter mf 
James J, and 'wife of the Elc3or Palatine, who was cbofen 
King of Bohemia , Sept. 5. 1619. The confluences of this fatal 
eleQion are 'Will known : Sir Henry We&on, <wm9 in that 
and the following year was employed mj#nefal emkaffies in} 
Germany on behalf of this unfortunate lady, feems to have 
bad an uncommon attachment to her merit and fortunes 9 for 
be gave away a Jewel worth a thoufand pounds, that was 
frefented to him by the Emperor, " becaufe it came from ate 
" enemy to bis royal miflrefi the Queen of Bohemia" Sea 
Biog* Brit an. 

This Jong is printed from the Reliquiae Wbttpnianae 
1 65 1. witijeme corrosions from an ototMS. eefy. 


YO U meaner beauties of the night, 
Which poorly fatisfie oar eies 
More by your number, then your light ; 
You common people of the ikies, 
What are you when the Sun (hall rife ? 


Ye 


ANCIENT POEMS. 


3i* 


Ye violets that iiift appcare, 
By your pare purple mantles known 

Like the prbnd virgins of the yeare, 
As if the Spring were all your own ; 
What ar,e you when the Rofe is blown i 10 

Ye canons chamfers of the wood, 
That warble forth dame Nature's layet, • 

Thinking yonr paffioas underftood 
By your weak accents ; what's your praifc, 
When £fc»fea*ii her voyce ihall raife ? 15 

So when my miftris dial be feene 
In foeetnefib of her looks and minde 5 
virtue firft, then choyce a qveen ; 
Tell mc, if flie, was not deugn'd . 

1 

Th' eclypfe and glory of her kind i 20 


vm. . 

THE OLD AKl> YOUNG COURTIER. 


This excellent old fong, thefuhjea of which is a compart* 
/oh between the manners of the old gentry* as ftill fuhfifting 
intht times of Elizabeth, and the modern refinements af- 

8 ftBti 


£« ANCIENT rOEMt 


TCr MIASEI BEAUTIES, 


*•> jb I MCjJ— T -■» Id- ew J mmdftrU:. 

rW «^ a ^-W *t» dlr Rrlkjolx To:: 
■ox:- mmQ~ mma&wJtm^mdtlB. eft- 



L 


v,^'' 11 "* M 


316 ANCIENT PO.EMS* 

fe3ed by their fans in the tfeigns %f her fuccefirs, is given 

from an ancient black-letter copy in the Ptpys cilkaio*, 

compared <wtth another printed among finu mifcellanem 

c< poems and fo'ngs" in a book intituled, «' he Prince £ 

" amour" i'66o. $*vo. * • 

4 

AN old fong made by an aged old pate, 
Of an, old worfhipfui gentleman, who hid a greatt 
«ftate, 
That kept a brave old houfe at a bountiful rate, 
And an 4>ld porter to relieve the poor at his gate ; 
Like an old courtier of the queen's, 
And the queen's old courtier. 

With an oW lady, whofe anger one word afiwages ; 
They every quarter paid their old fervanta their wage* 
And never knew what belong'd to coachmen, footmen, 

norpag.es, 
But kept twenty old fellows with blue coats and badges j 

Like an old courtier, &c. 

With an old ftudy fill'd full of learned old books, 
With an old reverend chaplain, you might know him 

by his looks. 
With an old buttery hatch worn quite off the hooks, 
And an old kitchen, that maintainM Half a dozen old 
cooks ; 

Like an old courtier, &c. 

■ ■ 

With 


ANCIENT PO EM S. 317 

With an old hall* hang about with pikes, guns, add bows, 
With old fwords, and bucklers, that had born many 

fhrewde blows, 
And an old frize coat, to cover his worship's trunk hofe, 
And a cup of old fherry/to comfort his copper nofe 1 
Like an old courtier, &c. 

With a good old fafhion, when Chriftmafle was come, 
To call in all his old neighbours with bagpipe, and drum, 
With good chear enough to furnim every old room, 
And old liquor able to make a cat fpeak, and man dumb. 
Like an old courtier, &c. 

With an old falconer, huntfman, and a kennel of hounds, 
That never hawked, nor hunted, but inhis own grounds, 
Who, like a wife man, kept himfelf within his own 

bounds, 
And when he dyed gave tvery child a thoufand good 
pounds ; 
Like an old courtier, &c. 

But to his eldeft fon his houfe and land he affign'd, 
Charging him in his will to keep the old bountifull mind, 
To be good to his old tenants, and to his neighbours be 

kind : 
But in the enfuing ditty you (hall hear how he was in- 
clin'd ; 
Like a young courtier of the king's, 
And the king's young courtier. 


$i* ANCIENT POEMS: 

Like a flourifhing young gallant, newly come to hit' 

land. 
Who keeps a brace of painted madams at his command, 
And takes op a thoafand pound upon hh father* land* 
And gets drank in a tarern* till fee can neither go nor 

Hand ; 
Like a young courtier, &c. » 

With a new-fangled lady, that is dainty , nice, and fpare; 
Who never knew what bekmg'd to good hotrfe-keeping, 

or care, 
Who buyes gaudy-cblor'd fans to play with wanton air, 
And feven or eight different dreflings of other womens 

hair ; 
Like a young courtier, &c. 

With a new-faihion'd hall, built where the old one 

flood. 
Hang round with new pictures, that do the poor no 

good, 
With a fine marble chimney, wherein barns neither coal 

nor wood, % 

And a new fmooth fhovelboard, whereon rio victuals 

ne'er ftood ; 
Like a young courtier, &c. 

With a new ftudy, ftuft full of pamphlets, and plays. 
And a new chaplain, that fwears falter than he prays, 

With 


A NClEtf f PO E M S. 31$ 

With a new buttery hatch, that opens once in four or 

Ave days, 
And a new French cook, to devife fine kicklhaws, and 

toys; 
Like a young courtier, &c. . 

With a new fafhion, when Chriflmas is drawing on, 
On a new journey to London ftraight we all muft begone, 
And leave none to keep houfe, but bur new porter John, 
Who relieves the poor with a thump on the back with? 
a ftone ; 
Like a young courtier, &c. 

« 

Whh a new gentleman-uiher, whcfe carriage is com- 

pleat, 
With a new coachman, footmen, and pages to carry up- 

the meat, 
With awaiting-gentlewom an , whofe dreffing is very neat* * 
Wfeo when her lady has din 'd, Jets the fervants not eat? 
Like a young courtier, Sec 

^7ith new titles of honour bought with his father's old 

gold, 
For which fundry of his anceffors old manors are ibid ; 
And this is the courfe mod of our new gallants hold, 
Which makes that good houfe- keeping is now grown fa* 
cold, 
Among the young courtiers of the king,' 
©r the king's young courtiers. 

. IX. Sir 


|to ANCIENT POEMS, 


IX. 


SIR JOHN SUCKLINGS CAMPAIGNE. 


When the Scottijb covenanters rofe up in arms, and ad* 
danced to the Engiijb borders in 1639, many of the Courtiers 
' complimented the king by raifing forces at their own expence. 
•Among theft none were more diftinguijhed than the gallant 
Sir John Suckling* who raifed a troop of horfe* fo richly 
accoutred, that it aft him 12,000/. The like expenfive 
equipment of other parts of the army* made the king re* 
mark* that " the Scots would fight ftoutly* if it were but for 
" the Euglijbmen'sfine cloathsr (Lloyd's memoirs.] When 
they camt to a8ion* the rugged Scots proved more than a 
match for the fine Jbeivy Engiijb: many of whom behaved 
remarkably ill, and among the reft this JpUndid troop of Sir 
John Suckling's. 

This humorous pafquil has been generally fuppofed to have 
been written by Sir John* as a banter upon himfelf Some 
of his contemporaries however attributed it to Sir John 
Mennist a wit of thofe times* among whofe poems it it 
printed in a fmall poetical mifcellany* intitled, t€ Mufarum 
" delici <e : or the mufes recreation* containing federal pieces 
«• ofpoetique wit. zd edition.~By Sir J. M. [Sir John 
" Mcnnis] and J a. S. [James Smith.] Lend* |6$6. 

«• limo." [See Wood's Athena. IL 397. 41 8.1 /• 

that copy is fubjoined an additional ftanza f which probably 
was written by this Sir John Mennis, vtK. 

6 « Em 


ANCIENT POEMS. 3*i 

" But netti there is peace, he's returned to incrtafe 

*' His money, which lately he fpent-a, 
" But his left honour muft lyeftill in the duft ; 

*« At Barwriek away it, went-a." 

SIR John he got him an Ambling nag, 
To Scotland for to ridc-a, 
With a hundred horfe more, all his own he fwore, 
To guard him Oil every fide-a. 

fto Errant ^knight ever went to fight g 

With halfe fo gay a bravado* 
Had you feen but his look, you'ld have fworn on a book, 

Hee'ld have conquer'd a whole armado. 

The ladies ran all to the windows to fee 

So gallant and watlike a fight-a, to 

And as he pafs'd by/ they (hid with a figh, 

Sir* John , why will you go Jight-a ? 

But he, like a cruel knight, fpurrM on $ 

His heart would not relent-a, 
For, till he came there, what had he to fear ? 15 

Or why mould he repent-a r 

The king (God blefs him !) had lingular hopes 

Of him and all his troop-a : 
The borderers they, as they met him on the way, 

For joy did hollow, and whoop-a, 29 

Vol. II. y None 


r 


None BkU hin,4? *pH» « Us <ow* {fttaieU, 

WLo tookjifai tfor Jdwi dc Wjat.-** . 
Bat wb wi -tko^e ^*e 4**s af £«iiAi*£ art *tow§ f 

My gallant w** fe«0tkM$ f«rt-* 

For when the, A*to «tt*y came wfefcu* fi^f*, J$ 

And all prepared to fight-a, 
He nu» to h* tent, they alk'd what kef .meant, 

He fwore he mud neais goe 4h*te»a» 

^The colonell font ftfr fekn back ftgen, * 

To quarter him in the vaa-a, S° 

Jfex Sir johA<&d fetter* he would not come there, 

To be kill'4 tfee^ery firft man a. 

To cure his f§ar*h« wife feat t& thelreauc, 
- , Some ten miles bjacfc, 4T»d more-ft? 
Where Sir Jofafc 4i4 play *£ trip and a**?, % fc 

And ne'er faw.tfre -etifciny more**, 

Ker. 22. John?i* ^k«* nfcJ* a German general t>f great refttn- 
tion, and the terror of the French in the re\g% ofLfuis XIII* Henee bk 
name became proverbial in France, where hews called De Vctt. Set 

Bay It i dick •.''...'' 


X. TO 


A N C t S N'T P OE M S. 323 


• . ^» . 

1. 

' TO ALTHEA FROM PRISON. 

1 
, .. .. 

Ytis excellent fonnet, which fojfeffed a high degree of fame 
Among the old Cava&eri; *vUs noritten by Colonel Richard 
Lovelace during bis confinemfuJtia the gate- bsvfe Weftminfler ; 
to which be was committed by the boufe of Commons , #» April 
164.1, for prefentlng a petition from the county of Kent* re- 
feufting them to reftore the king to his rights, and to fettle 
the government^ See Wtpd's Athene, VqL IL p. 2*8 ; where 
may befeen at large tbeaffecling fiory of this elegant writer, 
•who after having (een diftinguijbed for every gallant and 
polite actomplijhment, the pattern of his own Jex, and the 
darling of the ladies* died -in the lonve/1 wrttocheJuefs,ob- 
fcurity, and want, in 1658. • 

. Ibis fong is printed from a farce volume of his fcoems in- 
titled, " Lucafta, 1649. 12 mo." collated with a copy in 
the editor* s folio MS. 

WHEN love with un confined wings 
Hovers* within my gates, 
c * ^And my divine Althea brings 
To whifper at my grates ; 
• When I lye tangled in her haire, 5 

And fetter'd with her eye, 
The birds that wanton in the aire, 
. &OQw ao fnch liberty*. 

Y 2 ' - When 


324 ANCIENT POJEMS* 

When flowing cops ran fwiftly round 

With no allaying Thames, ' to 

Our carelefle heads with rofes crown'd, 

Our hearts with loyal flames ; 
When thirfty griefe in wine we fteepe, 

When healths and draughts goe free, ' 
Fifties, that tipple in the deepe, t j 

Know no fuch libertie. 

When, linnet-like, confined I 

With fhriller note wall fing 
The mercye, fweetnefs, majeftye, 

And glories of my king ; , ao 

When I (hall voyce aloud how good 

He is, how great fhould be, 
Th* enlarged windes, that carle the flood, 

Know no fuch libertie. 

Stone walls doe not a prifon make, 2$ 

Nor iron barres a cage, 
Mindes, innocent, and quiet, take 

That for an hermitage : 
If I have freedom in my love, 

And in my foule am free, jo 

Angels alone, that foare above, 

Enjoy fuch libertie. 

XT. THE 

Ver. 10. with woe-alUyiog themes. ifcflS, tbamet it btrt ufidf* 
waur ingtntrah 


ANCIENT POEMS. 325 


. XL 
THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING-CROSS- 

Cbaring-crofs, as it flood before the civil wars, was one 
ofjthofe beautiful Gothic obelijks erecled to conjugal off eft ion 
iy Edward 7. who built fucb a one wbereyer the berfe of 
his beloved Eleanor reft fid in its way from Lincoln/hire to 
IVeftminJter. But neither its ornamental fituation, the beauty 
.ofitsftru3ure, nor the noble defign of it? eredion (which 
did honour to humanity) could prefer ye it from the ntercilefs 
xeai of the times : For in 1647 it was demolijhed by order 
cf the Houfe of Commons, as ps>ptjh and fuperftitious. STbis 
occafioned the following net -un humorous farcafm, which has 
teen often printed among t be popular fonnets ofthofe times. 

'The plot referred to in <uer. 17, was that entered into by 
flfr. Waller the poet 9 and others, with a view to reduce the 
city arid tower to thefervice of the king ; for wbicbrtwo of 
thpu, Nath. Tomkins and Rich* Cbaloner, fuffered death 
July 5. 1643. Vid. Atb.Ox. II. 24. 

UNdone^ undone the lawyers are, 
They wander about the towne, 
Nor can find the way to Weftminfter, 

Now Charing-crofs is downe « 
At the end of the Strand, they make a Hand, c, 

Swearing they are at a lofs, 
And chaffing fay, that's not the way, 
They mufl go by Charing- croft. 


%3 a6 ANCIENT POEMS. 

The parliament to vote it down 

Conceived it very fitting* j<j 

Fpr fear it ihould fall, and kill them all, 

In the houfe, as they were fitting. 
They were told god-wot, it had a plot, 

Which aitde them fo hard-hearted 
To give command, it mould not (land, I 5 

But be taken down and carted. 

Men talk of plots, this might have been worfe 

For any thing I know, 
Than thatTomkins, and Chaloner 

Wore hang'd for long agoe. 20 

Cur parliament did that prevent. 

And wifely them defended, 
For plots they will difcover ftill, 

Before they were intended. 

But neither man, woman,, nor child, 25 

Will fay, Fm confident, 
They ever heard it (peak one word 

Againft the parliament. 
An informer fwore, it letters bore, 

Or elfe it had been freed $ , 30 

In troth I'll take my Bible oath, 

It could neither write, nor read. 


The 


A N*C I £1* T * tJU'S, 3»y 

The committee faid, that verily 

To popery it was bent ; 
For ought I know, it might be to, 35 

For to church it nev.ej ^/ent. 
What with excife, and fuch device. 

The kingdom doth begin < - > 
To think you'll leave them ne'er a crofs, 

Without doors nor wkftjir. 4 ** 

* 

Methifek* the comaBon-cpunml fijou'i - 

Of it' have tafcen pity, ' v ' '"' 

Oufe, good old crofc* it always. Spq4 ^ 

So foisiy to to* sisy* •• .....i . . 

Since <aeo As yo« fo mtieh dH&ainv 45," 

* Faith, if I were as you, 
For fear the king mould rule again, 
♦ I'd juaUi do*W Titwp* tjopK ,.'"'• 

' ' * 4 

%• Whitlockefays," May 3* \6^£heqtgde crofi t and 
f * o/jfor crojjes were voted /ow^'*^.* — ■£?#/ this' Vote 
*was not put in execution tvhk regard *e C h a r h* « Cross 
jiUfoiur jm***Jfar% 41 apfleqs* fitojm hHisjh Qfykrwtums ' 
£jt the Life, l$c.. of & Qhar]& 9 <pjx. " Qbarin^rafs^wjt 
** know, was fulled down, 1647, /« J****, ^Wy> *»^ 
" Auguft. Part of the Stones 'were converted to pave 
*' before Whitehall?* i k&v* fte* Knife^hafk* mad* of 
t* fome of the ftones, which* bfin& 1 *&l}cp4*$tyl% l Ippked 
" like marble ." 2£</. > 7 1 5 • ^.« 81. \2mo. 

See an Account of the pulling down Cheapjtde $rofs, in 
the Supplement to Gent. Mag. 1764, ' ' ' * 

t ... 

r 

1 • * 

Y 4 * ' XII. LOYAL- 


3»8 A N C IENT POEMS, 


XD. 

» 

LOYALTY CONFINED. 

This excellent old fong is preferred in David Lloyd's 
«• ttemoires oftbofe tbatfuffered in the caufe of Charles L'* 
Lond. 1668. foL /. 96. He /peaks of it as the compofition 
of a worthy perfonage, who fuffered deeply in thofe times, 
and was fill living with no other reward than the confcience 
of having fuffered. The author's name he bos not mentioned, 
but, if tradition may be credited, this fong vjas 'written by 
Sir Rogbh L'Estrange.— Some miftakes in Lloyd's copy 
are corre&ed by two others, one in MS* the other in tie 
Weftminfter Drollery, or a choice ColleQion of Songs and 
Poems, 1671. l2mo. 

BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; 
Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; 
Your incivility doth (how, 

That innocence is tempeft proof; 
Though furly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm ; 5 
Then ftrike, Affli&ion, for thy wounds are balm. 

That which the world mifcalb a jail, 

A prkate clofet is to me : 
Whilft a good confcience is my bail, 
And innocence njy liberty : <. Jfc 

Locks, bars, and folitude together met, 
Make me no prifoner, but an anchoret. 

I,wjulft 


AN CI EKT POEMS. 319 

I, whilft I wiflit to be reYir'd, 

Into this private room was turn'd ; 

As if their wifdoms had confpir'd 15 

" - The falamander mould be bnrn'd { 
Or like thofe fophifts, that would drown a fiih, 
I am conftrain'd *to fuffer what I wiflu 


The cynick loves his poverty ; 

The. pelican her wildernefs ; 
- And 'tis the Indian's pride to be 

Naked on frozen Caucafus : 
Contentment cannot fmart, Stoicks we fee 
Make torments eaiie to their apathy. 


Thefe manacles upon my arm 35 

I, as my miftrefs' favours, wear ; 
And for to keep my ancles warm, 
I have fome iron (hackles there : 
Thefe walls are but my garrrfon ; this cell, 
SVhich men call jail, dotji prove my citadel. 3a 

I'm in the cabinet lockt up, 

Like fome high-prized margarite, 
Or, like the great mogul or pope, 
Am cloyfter'd up from publick fight : 
Retirednefs is a piece of majefty, 35 

And thus, proud fultan, I'm as great as thee* 

Here 


3& ANCIENT PQtMS* 

Here fia for want of fqetd m«ft iarve. 

Where tempting efeje&* arc. not fees ; 
And thefe ftrong w,alls da oily fcrv* 

To keep vice out, and keep ape in : 40 

MaKce of late** grown charitable fure,. 
I'm not committed, but, an kept feci^re. 

So he that (back at Japan's life *, 

Thinking t' have made his purpofe (ore, 
By a malicious friendly knife 45 

Did only wound him to a care : 
Malice, I fee, wants wit ; for what is meant 
Mifchief, oftimes prows favour by tb* event. 

When once my prince afliftion hath, 

Profperity doth treafon feem j 50 

And to make fmooth fo rough a path* 
I can learn patience from him : 
Now not to fuffer (hews tio loyal heart. 
When kings want eafe fubjefts mail bear a part. * 

What though I cannot fee my king 55 

Neither in perfon or in coin ; 
Yet contemplation is a thing, 

That ren4ers what I have not, mine : 


My 


•> * •* *. 1 


• $f*tbts rtmarTtahh Jtory in Cicero it Nat. Deorum. Lib* 3* c* iS. 
Ctt. de OJjic, Lib* 1. c. 30* fie alfi V*L M&x, 1. 8. 


A N C IE NT.PO B Kf & 3Ji : 

My king from me what adamant can part, 

Whom I do wear engraven on my heart ? 6 > 

Have you not feen the nightingale, 

A piifoner like, coopt in a cage, " / 

How doth (he chaunt her wonted tale 
In that her narrow hermitage ? . 
Even then her charming melody doth prove, (£ 

That all her bars are trees, her cage a grove* 

I am that bird, whom they combine 

Thus to deprive of liberty ; 
Bnt though they do my corps confine, 

Vet mangre hate, my fool is free : 70 

And though immur'd, yet can I chirp, and fing 
Disgrace to. rebels, glory to my king. 

My foul is free, as ambient air, 

Although my bafer part's immew'd, 
Whilft loyal thoughts do ftill repair 7$ 

T' accompany my folitude: 
Although rebellion do my body binde, 
My king alone can captivate my minde. 


xiir. VERSES 


33* ANCIENT POEMS, 


XIII. 
VERSES, BY K. CHARLES T. 

u This prince, like his father, did pot confine him/elf to 
Mt profit : Bijhop Burnet has gi*ven us a pathetic elegy /aid 
" to he written by Charles in Carijhrook caftle [in 1648.] 
*• The poetry is mqft uncouth and unbar monious, but there are 
€M ftrong thoughts in it, Jotne good feufe, and afirain of ma- 
"jefiic piety." Mr. Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors, 
vol. I. 

It is in his " Memoirs of the Duke of Hamilton" p. 379. 
that Burnet hath preferred this elegy, which he tells us he 
had from a gentleman, who waited on the king at the time 
when it was written, and copied it out from the original. It 
is there intitled "MAJESTY IN MISERY: OR AN 
•* IMPLORATION TO THE KING OF KINGS." 

Hume hath remarked ofthefefanzas, ".that the truth of 
" the fentiment, rather than the elegance of the exprejfion, 
" renders them very pathetic." See 'his hijf. 1 763. 4/0. 
vol. 5. p. 437. 442. which is no bad comment upon them. 
—Theje are almoft the only verfes known of Charles's com- 
fofure. Indeed a little Poem On a quiet Conscience, 
printed in the Poetical Calendar, 1763. vol. Sth. is attri' 
buted to K- Charles I; being reprinted from a thin 81/0 
vol. by Nahum Tate, called " Mifcellanea Sacra, or Poems 
" on Divine and Moral SubjeQs" 

GReat monarch of the world, from whofe power fprings 
The potency and power of kings, 
Record the royal woe my fuffering tings 5 

And 


ANCIENT POEMS, jjj 

And teach my tongtae, that ever did corffine 

Its faculties in truth's feraphick line, * 

To track the treafons of thy foes and mine. 

Nature and. la*^ by thy divine decree, 
(The only root Qf righteous royal tie) 
. With this dim diadem inverted me; 

With it, the facred fcepter, purple robe* . t# 

The holy nn&ion, and the royal globe : 
Yet am I levell'd with the life of Job. 

The fierceft furies, that do daily tread 

Upon my grief, my gray discrowned head, 

Are thofe that owe my bounty for their bread* . 15 

They raife-a war, and chriften it the cause, 
While facrilegions hands have beft applaufe, 
Plunder and murder are the kingdom's laws ; 

'Tyranny bears the title of taxation. 

Revenge and robbery are reformation, 20 

Oppreffion gains the name of fequeftration. 

My loyal fabje&s, who in this bad feafon 
Attend me (by the law of God and reafon), 
They dare impeach, and punifh for high treafoa* 

/ 

I Next 


jj4 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Next at the clergy do their times frown, 2% 

Pious epifcopacy ara6 go d&wn, 

They will deftroy the crofter and Hie crows. 

Churchmen are chained, and fchffma ticks are frtt& 9 

Mechanicks preach, and- holy fathers bleed. 

The crown is crucified with the creed. ■ 30) 

'The church of England doth all factions fofter, 
The pulpit is ufurpt by each impoftor, 
Extempore excludes the Pater-nofttr. 

.The Prefbyter, and Independent feed 
Springs with broad blades. To make religion bleed 3 j 
Jferod aaA Pontius Pilate are agreed. 

The corqer {fane's, mifplac'd by every pavicr t 
With fuch a bloody method and beharioer 
Their aneeftors did crucifie oar Saviour. 

My royal con fort, ftom whotc fruitfai womb 40 

fip many princes .Legally ihave come, 
Is fore'd in pilgrimage id ieek a tomb. 

* t 

_ * - • r " 

Great Britain's heir is forced into France* 

Whilft on his father's head his foes advatioe :' " 

Poor child ! he weeps out his inheritance. *• 45 

« 

4 With 


A N c i;e:nt -poems. 3Jj 

With ay *>wn power my majefty they wound, 

In the king's fcattte the fcfng himfelf's oncrowa'd : 

So dotli *fce<teft <kbr*y «he dfefttotid. 

,: ^ith pft>pofirimw\Iiify tkey entrant 
My people's ears, futh a* do i-eafoh daunt,. ' fo 

And At Almighty wffl not let me gram,, ' 

They promife to ere& my royal fteni, 

To make me great, t' advance my diadem, 

If I will fob fall down, and worihip them ! 

But for refefaj they devour my thrones, jj 

Diftrefs my children,' and deftroy my bones ; 
I fear they'll force me to make breid of ftones, . 

My life they prize at fuch a (lender rate, \ 
That in my ab&nce they draw bills of hate* 
To prove the king a traytor to the fiate. 6a 

Felons obtain more privilege than I, 

They are allowed to anfwer ere they die ; > 

Tis death for me to aik the reafon, why* 

' 4 * 

But, facred Saviour, with thy words I woo 

Thee to forgive, and not be bitter to 6; 

Such, as thou know 'ft do not know what they do. 


For 


336 ANCIENT EOEM9. 

For face they from their lord are fa disjointed. 
As to contemn thofe edicts he appointed, 
How can they prize the power of his anointed ? 

Augment my patience, nullifie my hate, 
Preferve my iflue, and infpire my mate, 
Yet, though we perifh, bless this church and statu* 


XrV. 

, . THE SALE op REBELLIOUS HOUSHOLD- 

STUFF, 

TS/j farcaftic exultation of triumphant loyalty , is printed 

from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection, cot" 

wtfied by ttuo others, one of 'which is preferred in <c A choke 

€olleclion cf no ky*l Jongs* tfr." 1684. I2aw.— - To the 

tone of Old Simon the king. 

REbellion hath broken up houfe, 
And hath left me old lumber to fell ; 
Come hither, and take your choice, 

FII plbmife to life you well :. 
Will you buy the old fpeaker's chair ? 5 

Which was warm and eafie to fit in, 
And oft hath been cleaned I declare, 
When as it was fouler than fitting. 

Says old Simon the king, &c* 

Will 


A'- to C IE tf f POEMS. 337 

* 

Will you buy any bacon-flitches, 10 

The fatteft, that ever were fpent ? 
They're the fides of the old committees, * 

Fed up in the long parliament. 
Here's a pair of bellows; and tongs, 

And for a flriall ina*tter Pll fell ye 'am ; 1$ 

They are made of the prefbyters lungs,' 

To blow up the coals of rebellion. 
Says old Simon, Set. 

I had thought to have given them once 

To fome black-fmith for his forge j 2* 

But now I have confidered on't, 

They -are confecrate to the church : 
So I'll give them unto fome cjuire, 
. They will make the big organs roar, 
And the litrle" pipes to fqueeke higher, 55 

Than ever they could before.' 
Says old Simon, &c.' ' 

Here's a couple of ftools for fale, 

One's fquare, arid t'other is round; 
Betwixt them both the tail -4 

Of the Rum? fell down to the £rounkl. 
tVill you buy the ftates council-table, 

Which was made of the good wain Scot ? 
The frame was a tottering Babel 

To uphold the Independent plot. i* 

Says old Simon, &c. 
Vol II. Z H «r* 


\^ 


338. ANCIENT POEMS. 

Here's the beefom of Reformation, 

Which fhonld hare made clean the floor, 
But it fwept the wealth out of the nation, 

And left us, dirt good ftore. 40 

Will yon hay the Hate* fpinning-wheel, 

Which 'fpun for the ropers trade ? 
Bat better it had flood ftill, 

For now it hat fpun a fair thread. 

Says old Simon, Sec. fc 45 

Here's a gjyftcrrpipe well try'd. 

Which was made of a batcher's flump *, 
And has been fafely appjy'd, 
1 Ta care the colds. of the ramp. 

Here's a lamp of Pilgrims- Salve, 50 

Which once was a juftice of peace, 
Who Noll and the Devil did ferve - r 
But now it is come to this. 
Says old Simon, &c. 

V 

Here's a roll of the itates tobacco, 55 

If any good fellow will take it ; 
No Virginia had e'er fuch a fmack-o, 

And I'll tell you how. they did make it : * 


* Alluding probably tf Major-GtneraJ Harrifon <t butchers fon, 
<wb« aj/ifitd Cromwell in turning cut the long parliament, Af* 20. 

7 Til 


ANCIENT POEMi; 


339 


>Tis th* Engagement, and Covenant cookt , 
Up with the Abjuration oath ; 60 

And many of them, that have took't, 
Complain it was foul in the mouth* 
Says old Simon, &c* 

Yet the allies may happily ferve 

To core the fcab of the nation, 65 

Whene'er *t has an itch to fwerve 

To Rebellion by Innovation. 
A Lanthorn here is to be bought, 

The like was fcarce ever gotten, 
For many plots it has found out 70 

Before they ever were thought on. 
Says old Simon, Sec. 

Will you buy the rump's great fad die, 

With which it jocky'd the nation ? . 
And here is the bitt, and the bridle, 75 

And curb of Diflimulation : 
And here's the trunk-hofe of the rump, 

And their fair disenabling cloak, 
And a Prefbyterian jump, 

With an Independent fmock. 80 

Says old Simon, &c» 

Will you buy a Confcience oft turn'd, 
Which ferv'd the high-court of juftice, 

And ftretch'd until England it mourn r d : 

But Hell will buy that if the worft is. 85 

Z z Here's" 


j 


340 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Here's Joan CromwclFs kitching-ftuff tub, 
Wherein is the fat of the Rumpers, 

With which old Noll's horns fbe did rub, 
When (he was got drunk with falfe bumpers* 

Says old Simon, &c. 90 

Here's the purfe of the public faith ; 

Here's the model of the Sequeftration, 
When the old wives upon their good troth, 

Lent thimbles to ruine the nation. 
Here's Dick Cromwell's Prote&orfhip, 95 

And here are Lambert's commiffions, 
And here is Hugh Peters his fcrip 

Cramm'd with the tumultuous Petitions. 
Says old Simon, &c. 

And here are old Noll's brewing veflels, io* 

And here are his dray, and his flings ; 
Here are Hewfon's aw], and his briilles ; 

With diverfe other odd things : 
And what is the price doth belong 

To all thefe matters before ye ? 10c 

I'll fell them all for an old fong, 

And fo I do end my ftory. 
Says old Simon, &c. 

XV. THE 

Ver % 86. This was a cant name given to CremtveWs wife by the 
jRoyalifts, the? ker name was Elixaoetb : to the latter part of the verft 
bangs fome tale that is new forgotten, 

rer, 94. See Grefs Hudibras, Pt. I, Cant. 2. ver. 570. &e. 

Ver. 100. ioz. Cromwell bad in bis younger years followed the breco\ 

ing trade at Huntingdon, CoU Hew/on is J aid u have bgen originally a 
f oiler* 


ANCIENT POEMS. 341 


• XV. 

THE BAFFLED KNIGHT, or LADY's POLICY, 

Given (wlithfome correSions) from a MS copy, and col- 
lated <witb two printed ones in Roman char after in the Pefiys 
collection. , 

THERE was a knight was drunk with wine, 
A riding along the way, fir ; 
And there he met with a lady fine, 
Among the cocks of hay, fir* 

Shall you and I, O lady faire, J 

Among the grafs lye downe-a :, 
And I will have a fpecial care 

Of rumpling of your gowne-a. 

Upon the graft there is a dewe, 

Will fpoil my damafk gowne, fir : 10 

? I My gown, and kirtle they are newe, 
And coft me many a crowne, fir. 

I have a cloak of fcarfet red. 

Upon the ground Til throwe it; 
Then, lady faire, come lay thy head; 15 

'We'll play, and none (hall knoweit. 

Z 3 O yonder 


342 ANCIENT POEMS, 

O yonder (lands my Heed fo free 

Among the cocks of hay, fir ; 
And if the pinner fhould chance to fee, 

He'll take my Heed away, fir. 20 

Upon my finger I have a ring, 

Its made of fin eft gold-a ; 
And, lady, it thy fteed fhall bring 

Oat of the pinner's fold-a. 

O go with me to my father's hall ; 25 

Fair chambers there are three, fir : 

And you fhall have the bed of all, 
And 111 your chamberlaine bee, fir. 

He mounted himfelf on hisiteed fo tall, 
And her on her dapple gray, fir : 30 

And there they rode to her father's hall, 
Fail pricking along the way, fir. 

To her father's hall they arrived ftrait; 

'Twas moated round about-a ; 
She flipped herfelf within the gate, .3; 

And lockt the knight without-a. 

Here is a filver penny to fpend, 

And take it for your pain, fir ; 
And two of my father's men I'll fend 

To wait on you back again, fir* 40 

He 




ANCIENT POEMS. 343 

He from his fcabbard drew his ^braiid, 

And wiped it upon his fleeve-a : 
And curfed, he faid, be every ina*i, 

That will a maid believe-a ! 

She drew a bodkin from her haire, 45 

And whip'd it upon her gown-a ; 
And curs'd-he every maiden faire, 

That will with men lye down-a ! . 

A herb there is, that lowly grows, 

And fome do call it rue, fir : 50 

The fmallcA dunghill cock that crows, 

Would make a capon of you, irr. 

A flower there is, that fhineth bright, 

Some call it mary-gold-a : 
He that wold not when he might, 55 

He mall not when "he wold-a. 

The knight was riding another day, 

With cloak arid hat and feather : 
He met again with that lady gay, 

Who was angling in the river. 60 

Now, lady faire, I've met with you, 

You (hall no more efcape me ; 
Remember, how not Jong agoe 

You falfely did intrap me. 

Z 4 The 


344 ANCIENT POEM?. 

The lady .bluihed fcarlct red, 
And trembled at thg Granger : 

How fhall I guard my maidenhed 
From this approaching danger ? 

He from his fiddle down did light, 

In all his riche atfyer ; 
And cryed, As I am a noble knight, 

I do thy charms admyer. 

He took the lady by the hand, 

Who feemingly confented ; 
And would no more difpating ftand ; 

She had a plot invented. 

looke yonder, good fir knigty, I praj, 

Methinks I no\y difcover 
A riding upon his dapple gray, 

My former conftant lover. 

Pn tip-toe peering flood the knight, 

•Faft by the rivers brink-a ; 
The lady pufht with all her might : 

Sir knight, now fwim or fink-a. 

O'er head and ears he plunged in, 
The bottom faire he founded ; • 

Then riling up, he cried amain, 
Help, helpe, or elfe I'm drownded ! 

* 


H 


7». 


7S 


t» 


*5- 


Now, 


ANCIENT POEMS. 345 

Now, fare-you-well, fir,knight, adieu I 

You fee what comes of fooling : qo 

That is the fitteft place for you ; 
Your courage wanted cooling. 

Ere many days, in her fathers park, 

Juft at the clofe of eve-a, 
Again flie met with her angry fparke ; 95 

Which made this lady grieve-a. 

Falfe lady, here thou'rt in my powre. 

And no one now can hear thee : 
And thou fhalt forely rue the hour, 

That e'er thou dar'dft to jeer me. 100 

I pray, fir knight, be not fo warm 

With a young filly maid-a : 
I vow and fwear I thought no harm, 

*Twas a gentle jeft I playd-a. 

A gentle jeft, in foothe ! he cry'd, 105 

To tumble me in and leave me : 
What if I had in the river dy'd ?— — • 

That fetch will not deceive me. 

Qnce more I'll pardon thee this day, 

Tho' injur'd out of meafure ; 1 10 

But then prepare without delay 

To yield thee to my pleafure. 

Well 


346 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Well then, if I mail grant .your fait, 
Yet think of your boots and fpurs, fir : 

Let me poll off both fpur and boot, 115 

Or elfe you cannot Air, fir. 

He fet him down upon the grafs, 

And begg'd her kind affiftance : 
Now, fmiling thought this lovely lafs, 

I'll make you keep your diflance. 120 

v Then pulling off his boots half-way j 
Sir knight, now Pm your betters : 
You fhall not make of me your prey ; 
Sit there Uke a knave in fetters. 

The knight when (he had ferved foe, 125 

He fretted, fum'd, and grumbled : 

For he could neither Hand nor gge, 
But like a cripple tumbled. 

Farewell, fa knight, the clock ftrikes ten, 

Yet do not move nor flir, fir : 130 

I'll fend you my father's ferving men, 
To pull off you* feoots and fpurs, fir. 

This merry j«ft ypu jnpft exsuie, 

You are but a ftinglefs nettle : 

You'd never have flood for boots or {hoes, 135 

Had you been a man of mettle. 

All 


ANCIENT PQEMS. 347 

All night in grievous rage be lay, 

Rolling upon the plain -a ; 
Next morning a Qtepjierji pa# tjiajt .way, 

Who fet him right again-a. . 140 

Then mounting upon his fteedib tall, 

By hill and dale he fwore-a : 
I'll ride at once to her father's hall ; 
She fhall efcap.e no more-a. 

Pll take her fatHer by the beard, 145 

I'll challenge all her kindred ; 
Each daftard foul ihall (tancl aifeard ; 

My wrath fhall no more be hundred* 

He rode unto her father's houfe, 

Which every fide was moated : l$o 

The lady heard his furious vows, 

And all his vengeance noted. 

Thought fhee, fir knight, to quench your rage, 

Once more I will endeavour : 
This water (hall your fury 'fwage, 155 

Or elfe it fhall burn for even 

Then faining penitence and feare, 

She did invite a parley : 
Sir knight, if you'll forgive me heare, 

Henceforth I'll love you dearly. 160 

My 




34* ANCIENT POEMS, 

' My father he is now front home, 

And I am all alone, fir : 
Therefore a-croft the water come ; 
And I am all your own, fir. 

Falfe maid, thon canft no more deceive ; \6^ 

I fcorn the treacherous bait-a : 
If thou would'ft have me thee believe, 

Now open me the gate-a. 

The bridge is drawn, the gate is barr'd, 
My father he has the keys, fir. 170 

But I have for my love prepar'd 
A fhorter way and eafier. 

Over the moate I've laid a plank 

Full feventeen feet in meafure : 
Then flep a-crofs to the other bank, 175 

And there we'll take our pleafure. 

Thefe words (he had no fooner fpoke. 

But ftrait he came tripping over : 
The plank was faw'd, it fnapping broke ; 

And fous'd the unhappy lover. 180 


v 


XVI. WHY 


I 

J 


ANCIENT POEMS. 349 


XVL 
WHY SO PALE? 

From Sir John Suckling 9 s poems. This fprightly knight 
nvas born in 1613, and cm off by a fetter about the 29/A 
year of his age. See abo<ve 9 Seng IX, of this Book. 

WHY fo pale and wan, fond lover ? 
Prethee, why fo pale ? 
Will, when looking well can't ihove her, 
Looking ill prevail ?.. 
trethee why fo pale ? 5 

Why fo dull and mute, young finner ? 

Prethee why fo mute ? 
Will, when fpeakiag well can't win her, 

Saying nothing doc't ? 

Prethee why fo mute ? idf 

Quit, quit for fhanrce; this will not move, 

This cannot take her J 
If of herfelf (he will not love, 

Nothing can make her. 

The devil take her ! 15 

XVII. OLD. 


55<> ANCIENT POE¥S* 


XVII. 

OLD TOM, OF BEDLAM. 

Mad song the first. 

// is worth attention, that the Englijb have more fongs 
mad ballads on the fubjeS of madnefs, than any of their 
neighbours. Whether it is that we are more liable to this 
ealamity than other nations, or in bet her our native gkominefs 
bath peculiarly recommended fubjeds of this caft to our wri- 
ters, the foci is inconteftable, as any one may be fatisfied, 
who nvill compare the printed collection? of French, Italian 
Songs, &c. with thofe in our language* 

Out of a much larger quantity, we have felecled half a 
dozen mad songs for thefe volumes* The three firft. are 
originals in their rejpedive kinds ; the merit of the three loft 
is chiefly that of imitation. They were written at confider- 
Me intervals of time', but we have here grouped them toge- 
ther, that the reader may the better examine their compa- 
rative merits. He may confider them as fo many trials of 
jkill in a very peculiar fubjecl\ as the conteftoffo many ri- 
. vols to Jhoot in the bow of UUJfes* The two firft were pro* 
bably written about the beginning of the laft century ; the 
third about the middle of it y the fourth andfixtb towards 
the end ; and the fifth within this prefent century. 
. This is given from the editor's folio MS. compared with 
two or three old printed copies.— With regard to the author 
of this old rhapfody, in Walton's Oomph at Aagler, cap, 3. is 
1 afong 


ANCIENT POEMS. 3J r 

• 

afong in praife of angling* which the author fays ikas made 
at his requefi "by Mr. William Basse, one that has 
" made the choice Jongs of the Hunter in his career, 
" and of Tom op Bedlam, and many others of uou" 
p. 84. See Mr. Haw kins'* curious Edition, $'<vo. of this 
excellent old Piece. 

FORTH from my fad and darkfome cell, 
()r from the deepe abyfTe of hell, 
Mad Tom is come into the world againe 
To fee if he can cure his diftempered braiae. 


Feares and cares opprefle my foule ; 
Harke, howe the angrye Fureys houle ! 
Pluto laughes, and Proferpine is gladd 
To fee poore naked Tom of Bedlam madd. 

Through the world I wander night and day 
To feeke my ftraggling fenfes, 

In an angrye moode I mett old Time, 
With his pentarchye of tenfes : 


10 


When irie he fpyed. 

Away he hyed, 
For time wfll flay for no man : 
• In vaine with' cry es 

I rent the (kyes, 
For pity is not common. 


Cold and comfbrtlefs I lye : 
Helpe, oh helpe ! or elfe I dye ! 


20 
Harke ! 


3$* ANCIENT t OtUi. 

Harke ! I beare Apollo's team*, 

The carman 'gins to whittle ; 
Chad Diana bends her bowe, 

The boare begins to brittle. 

Come, Vulcan, with tools and with tackles, z% 
To knocke off my troublefome (hackles j 
Bid Charles make ready his waine 
To fetch me my fenfes agaihe: 

Laft night I heard the dog-ftar bark ; 
Mars met Venus in the darke ; * $4 

Limping Vulcan het an iron barr, 
And furiouflye made at the god of war : 

Mars with his weapon laid about, 
But Vulcan's temples had the gout, 
For his broad horns did fo hang in his light, 35 
He could hot fee to aim his blowes aright : 

Mercurye the nimble poft of heaven, 

Stood ftill to fee the quarrell ; 
Gorrel-bellyed Bacchus, gyant like, 

Beilryd a ffcrong-beere barrell. 40 

To mee he dranke, 
I did him thanke, 
But I could get no cyder? 

8 He 


J 


ANCIENT POEMi 353 

He dranke whole butts 
v Till he burft his gntts, 4$ 

JBut mine were ne'er the wyder. 

Poore naked Tom is very drye : 
, A little drinke for charitye ! 

Harke, I hear A&eons hornet 

The huntfmen whoop and hallowe : 5# 

Ring wood, Royfter, Bowman, Jowler, 

All the chafe do followe. 

. The man in the moone drinkes clarret, 
Eates powder* d beef, turnip, and carretj 
But a cup of old Malaga facke j j 

Will fire the bufhe at his backe. 


XVIIL 

THE DISTRACTED PURITAN, 
'Mad song the sicond, 

— was written about the beginning of the fcventeenth ce*+ 
tury by the witty bijhop Corbet* and is printed from the $d 
edition of his poems, iimo. 1672, compared with & moro 
ancient copy in the editor's folio MS. 

Vol. II. A a AM 


j 5 4 ANCIENT POEMS. 

AM I mad, O nobfe Fgftus, 
When zeal and godly knowledge 
Have pat me in hqpe 
To deal with the pope, 
As well as the bed in the college ? 5 

Boldly I preach, bate a crofs, hate a furpUce* 

Mitres, copes, and rochets ; 
Come hear me pray nine times a d*y r , 
And fill your heads with crecheis* 

In the houfe of pure Emanuel * 10 

I had my education, 

Where my friends furmife 
I dazel'd my eyes 
* With the fight of revelation* 
Boldly I preach, &c. 

They bound me like a bedlam, # j 

They lafh'd my four poor quarters ; 

Whilft this I endure, 

Faith makes me fure 
To be one of Foxes martyrs. 
Boldly I preach, &c* 


Thefe. injuries I fufFer 
Through antichrift's perfivafion 


Take 


• Ei$annel iollege Cambridge was originally a Jminary tf Puritans. 


ANCIENT POEMS. 

Take off this chain, 
Neither Rome nor Spain 
Can refift my ftrong invafion. 
Boldly I preach, &c. 

Of the beafts ten horns (God blefs us !) 
I have knock'd off three already; 

If they let me alone 

I'll leave him ndne : 
fiut they fay I am too heady. 
Boldly I preach; &c. 

When I fack'd the feven-hiUM city, 
I met the great red dragon ; 

I kept him aloof 

With the armour of proof, 
Though here I have never a rag on* 
Boldly I preach,* &c # 

* 

With a fiery fword and target, 
There fought I with this monfter : 

But the fons of pride 

My s^eal deride, 
And all my deeds mifconfter. 
Boldly I preach, &c. 

t un-hors'4 the Whore of Babel, 
With the lance of Infpiration j 

A a 2 


355 


*5 


So 


35 


I made 


3S 6 ANCIENT POEMS, 

I made her ltink, 
And fpill the drink 
In her cap of abomination. 
Boldly I preach, &c. 

I have feen two in a vifion 45 

With a flying book • between them. 

I have been in defpair 

Five times in a year, 
And been cur'd by reading Greenham f. 
Boldly I preach, &c. 

I obferv'd in Perkins tables % S* 

The black line of damnation ; 

Thofc crooked veins 

So duck in my brains, 
That I fear'd my reprobation. 
Boldly I preach, &c. 


In 


* Alluding to fome vifionary expofition of Zech. cb, v. ver, I. or, 
if the date of this Jong would permit, one might fuppofe it -aimed at one 
Coppe, a firange entbufiaft, ivbofe life may be feen in Woodti Atben, 
vol, 2. p, 501. He was author of a book intitled, " The fiery flying 
Roll ;" and afterwards publijbed a Recantation, part of ivbofe Title is, 
" The fiery flying Rotfs wings dipt" &c. 

•f See Greenhams works, foi 1605. particularly the traS infilled, 
/' Afwect comfort for an afflifted confcience, 

% See Perkins's works, faL 16 16. vol, 1, p* 11 \ where is a large 
bflffbect folded, containing ct Afurvey, or table declaring the order of 
" the caufes of falvation, and damnation, £ft." the pedigree of damtM- 
tion being difiingui/bed by a broad black zig-zag line* 


ANCIENT, POEM Si 357 
In the holy tongue of Canaan 55 

« 

I plac'd my chiefefl pleafure : 

Till I prick'd my foot 

With' an Hebrew root, 
That I bled beyond all meafure. 

• Boldly I preach> &c. 

I appear'd before the archbifhop t, 60 

And all the high commiffion ; 
I gave bim no grace, 
But told him to his face, 
That he favour'd fuperftition. 

Boldly I preach, hate a crofs* hate .a furplice^ 
Miters, copes, and rotchets : 66 

Come hear me pray nine times a day, 
And fill your heads with crotchets* - 


•* Abb, Laud. 

k • T 


A» 3 - XIX. THS 


3j8 ANCIENT POEMS, 


tffX. 

THE LUNATIC LOVER, 

Mad e o n c t" h e ? h i r d, 

•is given from an old printed copy in 1be Sritijh Mufeum^ 
compared twiA > anwthir in tkt Ftyji ctltiaibrtt both in black 
letter. 

GRIM king of (be ghofU, make hafle}, ^ 
And bring hither all your train ; 
See How the pale moon does wafte, 

And juft now is in the wane. 
Come, you night-hags, with all your charms, 5 

And revelling witches away, 

And hug me clofe in your arms ; 

To you my refpedts 1*11 pay. 

I'll court you, and think you fair, 

Since love does diftracl my brain : 10 

I'll go, Til wed the night-mare, 

And kifs her, and kifs her again : 

But 


ANCIENT POEM S. 359 


Bat if (he prove peavifti and proud, 
Then, a pife oa h*r far* ! Jet h#r g*£ 

I'll feek me a winding inroad, 
And down to the (hades bokw, 


'S 


A lunacy fad I endure^ 

' Since reafon departs away ; 
I call to thofe hags for a cuw 

As knowing not what I fay. 
The beauty, who» I do adore, 

Now flights me with fcorfl and difidain; 
I never (hall fee her more : 

Ah ! how (hall I bear my pain:! 

1 ramble, and range abort* 

To iind out my charming faint j 
While (he at my grief does flout, 

And fmiles at my loud complaint* 
Diftra&ion I fee is my doom* 

Of this I am now too fore ; 
A rival Is got in my room, 

While torments I do eiidare. 


20 


H 


30 


Strange fancies do 611 my head, 
While wandering in defpair, 

I am to the de farts lead, 
Jixpetting to find htr there. 

A .a 4 


35 


Methinks 


A I 


360 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Methinks in a fpangled cload 

I fee her enthroned on high ; 
Then to her I crie aloud, 

And labour to reach the Iky. j 

m 

When thus I have raved awhile, 

And wearyed myfelf in vain, 
I lye on the barren foil, 

And bitterly do complain. 
Till llumber hath quieted me, ^ 

In forrow I figh and weep ; 
The clouds are my canopy 

To cover me while I fleep. 

I dream that my charming fair 

Is then in my rival's bed, . 

Whofe treffes of golden hair 

Are on the fair pillow befpread. 
Then this doth my patiion inflame, 

I (tart, and no longer can lie : 
Ah ! Sylvia, art thou not to blame rr 

To ruin a lover i I cry. 

Grim king of the ghofts, be true* 

And hurry me hence away, 
My languifhing life to you 

A tribute I freely pay, 6© 


,i 


T9 


ANCIENT POEM?, 361 

To the elyfian ihades I poft 

In hopes to be freed from care, 
Where many a bleeding ghoft 

Js hovering in the air, ; 


XX. 

THE LADY DISTRACTED WITH LOVE, 
Mad song the fourth, 

nvas originally fung in one o/*Tom D'urfey's come- 
dies of Don Quixote a fled in 1694. and 1696 ; and probably 
compo/ed by bimfelf In the fcveral flanzas, the author re- 
presents his pretty Mad-woman as \ /jullenly mad : z* mirth- 
fully mad : 3. melancholy mad : 4. J ant djlic ally mad ': and 
5. ft ark mad. Both this, and Num. XX 11. are printed from 
D'urfey's " Pills to purge Melancholy" 1719. *vol. L 

FROM rofie bowers, where fleeps the god of love, 
Hither, ye little wanton cupids, fly ; 
Teach me in foft melodious drains to move 

1 

With tender paflion my heart's darling joy : 
Ah ! let the foul of mufick tune my voice, 5 

To win dear Strephon, who my foul enjoys. 


362 ANCIENT POEMS. 

Or, if more influencing 

Is to be brifk and airy, 
With a ftep and a bound, 
With a frifk from the ground, 10 

1*11 trip like any fairy. 

« 

As once on Ida dancing 

Were three celeftial bodies : 
With an air, and a face. 
And a (hape, and a grace, re, 

I'll charm, Jike beauty's goddefs. 

Ah ! 'tis in vain ! 'tis all, 'tis all in vafn ! 
Death and defpair mud end the fatal pain : 
Cold, cold defpair, difguis'd like fnow and rain, 
Falls on my breaft; bleak winds in tempefts blow; 20 
My veins all fhiver, and my fingers glow : 
My pulfe beats a dead march for loft repofe, 
And to a folid lump of ice my poor fond heart is froze* 

* 

Or fay, ye powers, my peace to crown, 

Shall I thaw myfelf, and drown 2$ 

Among the foaming billows ? 
Increaiing ajl with tears I fhed, 

On beds of ooze, and cryftal pillows 
Lay down, lay down my lovefick head ? 

No, no, I'll ft rait run mad, mad, mad, 39 

That foon my heart will warm ; 

When 


J 


ANCIENT. POEMS.. 363 

When once the fcnfe is fled, is fled, 

hove has no power t» charm. 
Wild thro' the woods iH f Ay, Vl\ fly, 

Robes, locks— -r — ftafl thus fee tore? 35 

A-thoufand, thoofand times I'll dve 

Ere thus, thus, in vain, — ere thus in vain adore. 


XXI. 

THE DISTRACTED LOVER, 

M AD SO N G rttk 9 1W1 it, 

t— w*/ written by Heart?"' CAggtf, d celebrated compofer 
pfMufie at ibe beginning of ibis cttitury, dnd antbbr effe* 
veral little ^Theatrical EnttrtaiwntntSi which the reader 
nun find enumerated in the " Companion to the Play- hou/i," 
l3c . 7*£f fprightlinefs of this Songfler's fancy could not 
preferue him from a very mehmcholy catajlrophe, which was 
effected by his own hand. In his Poems, 4/0. Loud. 1729, 
may befeen another Mad- Song of this author beginning thus,* 
* * Gods ! I can never this endure, 
u Death alone" tnuft he my cure, t$c. 

I Go to the Elyfian (hade, 
Where forrow ne'er (hall wound rtie ; 
.Where nothing fhall my reft invade, 
But joy fhall ftill furroond the* 

1 in 7 


364 ANCIENT POEMS. 

I fly from Celia's cold difdain, r 5 

From her difdain I fly ; 
She is the caufe of all my pain, 

For her alone I die. 

Her eyes are brighter than the mid-day fun, 

When he bat half his radiant courfe has run, 10 

When his meridian glories gaily fhine, 

And gild all nature with a warmth divine. 

See yonder river's flowing tide, 

Which now fo full appears ; 
Thofe dreams, that do *fo fwiftly glide, 15 

Axe nothing bat my tears. 

There I have wept till I could weep no more, 

And curft mine eyes, when they have wept their {tore,. 

Then, like the clouds, that rob the azure main, 

I've drain'd the flood to weep it tack again. 2* 

« 
Pity my pains, 

Ye gentle fwains ! 

Cover me with ice and fnow, 

I fcorch, I burn, I flame, I glow ! 

r 

Furies, tear me, 25 

Quickly bear me 
To the difmal (hades below ! 
Where yelling, and howling 

And 


i 


J 


ANCIENT POEMS. 365 

And grumbling, and growling 
Strike the ear with horrid woe. 3* 

Hiding fnakes, 

Fiery lakes 
Would be a pleafure, and a cure i 

Not all the hells, 

Where Pluto dwells, 35 

Can give fuch pain as I endure. 

To fome peaceful plain convey me, 

On a moffey carpet lay me, 

Fan me with ambrofial breeze, 

Let me die, and fo have cafe ! \ 40 


XXII. 

TH*E FRANTIC LADY, 
1 Mao song the sixth. 

This, like Num. XX* was originally futtg in one of 
D'urfey's Comedies of Don Quixote^ (firji afied about the 
year 1694), and ivas probably compojed by that popular 
Songfter 9 who died Feb, 26. 1723. 

t 7 bis is printed from the " Hi e ve J a Colle&ion of Songs" 
4 vol. 1721. 1 2mo. where may be found t<wo or three other 
Mad Songs not admitted into theft Volumes* 

I Barn, 


366 ANClfctfT POEMS, 

I Barn, my brain copfimtt fp tfh& ! 
Each eye-ball top Kke lighfcning flaihw I 
Within my bread there glows a folid fire* 
Which in a thou fan d ages can't empire ! 

Blow, blow, lilt winds' great ruler ! 
Bring the Po, and the Ganges hither* 
'Tis fultry weather. 
Pour them all on my foul* 
It will hifs like a coal, 
"But be never the cooler* 


'Twas pride hot as. hell, 

That fir ft made me rebel!, 
From love's awful throne a curft angel t fell } 

And mourn now my fate, 

Which myfelf did create : i £ 

Fool, fool, that confider'd not when I was well! 

Adieu ! ye vain tranfporting jflys ! 
Off^e vairi fantafUc toys I 
That drefs this face*- this body— to allure ! 

Bring me daggers, poifon, lire*! 26 

Since fcorn is turn'd into defire. 
All hell feels not the rage, which 1, poor I, endure.- 


i 


fcxrif. lillI 


i 


ANCIENT POEMS. 367 


XXIII. 

LILLI BURLERO, 

¥be following rhymes, flight and infigniflcant as they may 
now feem, had once a more powerful eflecl than either the 
Philippics of Demoflhenes, or Cicero ; and contributed not a 
little towards the great revolution in 1 6 £8. Let us hear a 
contemporary writer. 

" A foolijh ballad was made at that time, treating the 
4 * Papifls, and chiefly the Irijh, in a very ridiculous manner , 
** which had a burden faid to he Irijh words, hero, lero t 
•' liliburlero," that made an imprejpon on the [king's] army, 
that cannot be imagined by thofe that faw it not. The 
whole army, and at I aft the people both in city and coun- 
try, wereflnging it perpetually. And perhaps never had 
4f fo flight a thing fo great an effecl." Burnet, 

It was written on occaflon of the king's nominating to the 
lieutenancy of Ireland in 1 686, general Talbot, newly created 
earl ofTyrconnel, a furious Papifl, who had recommended 
himfelf to his bigottedmafter by his arbitrary treatment of 
the Proteflants in the preceding year, when only lieutenant 
general, and wbofe fubfequent conduft fully jujiifed his ex* 
peStations and their fears. The violences of his adminiflra- . 
tionmay be f fen in any of the hiftories of thofe times : parti- 
cularly in bijhop King*s " State of the proteflants in Ireland" 
1691. 4/0. 

Lilliburlero and Bullbn- a-l ah are faid to have 
been the words of diftinQion ufed among th&.lnjh Papifls in 
their maffacre of the Proteflants in 1 64 U . 

HOl> 




#8 ANCIENT POEMS; 

HO ! broder Teague, doft hear de decree t 
Lilli burlero bullcn a-la. 
Dat we fhall have a new deputie, 
Lilli burlero bullen a-k. 

Lero lero f lilli burlero, lero lero, bullen a-la, 5 
Lero lero, lilli burlero, lero lero, bullen a-la. 


Ho ! by (haint Tyburn, it is de Talbote : 

Lilli, &c. 
And he will cut all de Englifh troate. 

Lilli* &c. 16 

Dough by my fhoul de Englilh do praat, 

Lilli, &c. 
De law's on dare fide, and Creifh knows what; 

Lilli, &c. 

But if difpence do come from de pope, 1 $ 

Lilli, &c, 
We'll bang Magna Charta, and dem in a rope, 

Lilli, &c. 

For de good Talbot is made a lord, 

Lilli, &c. 2» 

And with brave lads is coming aboard : 

Lilli, &c+ 


Who all ii> France have taken a fware, 
LiUi, &c. 


Dat 




ANCIENT-'I* O EMS. 36$ 

* ♦ 

t)at dey will have no protectant heir. , » x 25 
/ Lilli, &<:• ..« •"• T 




Ara ! bat why does he ftay beJiind,? T 
Lilli, &c. 

Ho ! by my fliod 'tis a proteftant -wjnd; ? , " 

Lilli, Set. ....>. . - j^ 


< 


< * t 


But fee de Tyrconnel is now come afhore, 

. Lilli, &c. !»i..- ' t .' 

And we fhaU have commlffions |tilfaig; 
Lilli, &c. 


* >• 


v 
%» 




And he dat will not go to de mafs, 3 5 

Lilli, &e. 
Shall be turn out, and. look like an afs. 

Lilli, &c. 


• ■ r 


<** * 




Now, now de> heretkks all go-donm* . a 1 : : ' 1 *:I 

Lilli, &c, 40 

By Chrifli anoTfliainf Patiiek, dfc nktorf^Wbf Wirr 

iiiii,.&cv ■ ' r ^/ i ^; / ' , * 

• *'*'<• •' • ' . ■•v.v»vr- tvioy ^** v i* *"? 

Dare was aa old prdphefy, foqfnxi. m-avb^g, . . \.*\ 
Lilli, &c. - V --*A. 

" Ireland mail be rol'd by an frfs,; an4 *<Jog." . 4| 

Liil^, &c : ^ c* 


u- 


.JW.,f 


Vot.fl. ' *i> { T .;;- : r* And 


35* A fcf C tE'N 'T POEMS. 

And now db propfcefy is came to pals, 

Lilli, &c. 
For Talbot's de dog, and Ja ## s is de afij. 

Lilfe, &c. 

%• Tk*'fl¥egemg Song is uttr&uhdf to ZonfWrfAR- 
j*ok in a /mail pamphlet intitled "*A thee, relation of the 
federal fags and circumftances of the intended riot and 
tumult on ^Elizabeth's birth- day, fcsfr." yL ed^ Land, 
ljlz.pK'id. "— - Sfe /. 5. ■*/*.**>* JT late Viceroy [of 
*' Ireland,) who hasfo often boaftod himfelf upon his ta- 
" lent for mtfcbjtf, invention, tying, pud for. making a cer- 
€t tain Lilliburlefb Song ; <witb which, if you will believe 
" himfelf, he fung a deluded Prince out of Three King- 


domsJ 


► « »Xa 


l .» • t ' \ 


XXIV. 
THE BRAES OF YARROW, 

In IMITATHW0V TH'I AmtlWT SVOtS- M**4tER, 

j* • ■» - •» • «■ 

r**w* imrfat* h Will^H*mik**yf $**&*** Efi; *»b* 

died March 25. 1754. Ag^S * & is primed from an elegant 
tdition of his Poems publijbed at Edinburgh, 1 760, 1 2mo. 
Ybiffong was written in imitation of an old Scottijb Bal- 
lad on a^fimlmr J$d^e& y witfn t&e Jiame burden *> each 
flanza. 

L A* iftfrtJSK yfe, bulk ye, my bonny bonny bride, 
JL-J Bulk ye, bulk ye, my wirifbme marrow, 
f Balk ye, bulk ye, my, bonny bonny bride* 

And think nae mair on the Braes, of Yarrow. 

M. Where 


ANcrfei^f POEMS* sfcl 

Where; gat ye tkat winfome in#?r<W I 
^. I gat her where I dju-c na weii ,be ftea, 

Paing the feirkt 9a tfje ?raes of Y«a*?wrt 

Weep not, weep not, .my bo**y bonny bride; 

Weep n&t, weep not, my winfoine n>ajrew f id 
Nor let thy heart lament to leive 

Puing the bi^ks on the Braes of Yarrow. 

B. Wby doe* Aie weep, thy bpnn j bonny bridoi 
Why does ihe weep thy winfoine, marrow J 
And why dare ye nae mair well he feen 1 j 

Puing the birks on the Braes of Yarrow ? 

J. Lang maan ihe weep, Jang marin ihe, maun lhe weep, 
Lang maun ihe weep with dale and forrow ; 
Afad lang maun I nae mair wetf b* feen 
Puing the birks on the Brafcs of Yarrow. 2d 


For ihe baa ^k>t her Juver t Jijvf? ^.^ 
Her lover, d*ar, the caofe of forrowf 

And I hae fla*n the ten>$e$ fwfti* 
Ttatejr 99*4 Mfti oq. j&e e ftat» of Ya/rdw. 

Why ria* tky ftr«a*> « Y«wr* Yw^w, *¥»! ? 25 

Why on thy braes heard the vojgt <pf fortow I 
And \vfcy yen JaeiaftdieitfHM wt\fo 

Hang on the bonny bkk* of Yarmr ? . 1 

BV2 -•■•'•-•• - whjf. 


-37* A N C I E N T , POE M & 

What's yonder floats on the rueful rueful flude ? - 
What's yonder floats ? O dale and forrow ! 30 

O 'tis he the comely (wain I (lew 
Upon the doleful Braes Qf Yarrow. 

1 Wafh, O wafli his wounds; his wounds in tears, 
~ l ' 'His wounds in tears with dule and forrow ; 

And wrap his limbs in mourning weids, 35 

And lay him on the Braes of Yarrow. - 

Then build, then build, ye Afters, fitters lad, - 
Ye fitters fad, his tomb with forrow j 

« 

And weep around in waeful wife 

His haplefs fate on the Braes of Yarrow. 40 

Curfe ye, curfe ye, his'ufelefs, ufelefs fhield, 
My arm that wrought the deed of forrow, 

The fatal fpear that piere'd his breaft, 
'His comely breait on the Braes of Yarrow. 

Did I not warn thee, not to, not to luve ? 45 

And warn fJotai -fight ? but to my forrow 

Too rafhly bauld a ftronger arm * 
Thou ntett'ft, and fell'ft on the Braes of Yarrow* 

Sweet fmelk the birk, green grows, green grows the 
♦grafs, 
Yellow on Yarrow's bank the gowan, 50 

Fair hangs theupple fmc the rock, 
• $wect the wave of Yarrow fiowan. 

Flows 


A N C r E NT POEM S. 37J 

Flows Yarrow fweet? as fweet, as fweet flows Tweed, 
As green its grafs, its gowan as yellow, 

As fweet fmells on its braes the birk, 55 

The apple frae its rock as mellow. 

Fair was thy luve, fair fair indeed thy luve, 

4 

In Eow'ry bands thou didft him fetter $ 
Tho' he was fair, and weil beluv'd again 

Than me he never luv'd thee better. 60 

Bulk ye, then bufe, my bonny bonny bride, 
Bulk ye, bu& ye, my winfome marrow, 

Bufe ye, and luve me on the banks of Tweed, 
And think nae mair on the Braes of Yarrow. 

C. How can I bufe a bonny bonny bride ? 65 

How can I bufk a winfome marrow ? 
How luve him upon the banks of Tweed, 
That flew my luve on the Braes of Yarrow ? 

O Yarrow fields; may never never rain, 
Now dew thy tender blofforas cover, 70 

For there Was bafely {Iain my luve, 
My luve, a% he had not been a lover. . 

The boy put on his robes, his robes of green, 
His purple veil, 'twas my awn fewing : 

Ah ! wretched me ! I little, little kenn'd 75 

He was in thefe to meet his ruin, 

B b 3 The 


jj4 ANCIENT POEMS, 

Tli« bey t*ok out Ms milk white, milk-white fteed, 


Unhetdful of »y dale and far row $ 
Bat ere the teoftll of the night 
He lay ft oar j* Ob the Brats of Yarrow. 8a 

Maeh I rejoyc'd that waefal waefal day ; 

I fang, my voice the woods returning : 
Bat lang ere night the fpear was flown, 

That flew my lave, and left me mourning. 

What can my barbaroas baAprogs father do, $5 
Bat with his cruel rage^Kfue me K 

My luverYblood is on thyfpear, 

rtow canft thoo, barbarous man, then wooe me i 

My happy filters may be, may be proud] 

With cruel, and ungentle fcoffin', 90 

May bid me feek on Yarrow's Braes 
My lever nailed in his coflta. 

My brother Douglas may upbraid, upbraid, 

And ftrive with threatning words to muve me : 
My lover's blood is on thy fpear, 55 

How canft thou ever bid me luve thee ? 

c 

Yes, yes, prepare the bed, the bed of luve, 

With bridal (heets my body cover, 
ynbar, ye bridal maids, the door, 

Let in the expc&cd IwJbande lover. idp 


Bat 


ANCIENT POtMi &$/ 

But who the expe&ed hulband hufband is ? 

His hands, methinks, are bath'd in daughter : 
Ah me ! what ghaftly fpecVe's yon 

Comes in his pale fhroud, bleeding after ? 

Pale as he Is, here lay him, lay him down, ioc 

O lay hi* cold head <ra my pillow % 
Take afl> take afF thefe bridal weids, 

And crown my careful head with wiHbw. 

Pale tho' thou art, yet belt, yet beft beluv'd, 
O Cjmld my warmth to life reftouc thee I 1 10 

Yet lye all flight between my breifts, 
No youth lay ever there before thee. 

Fale, pale indeed, O Uvely luvely youth, 

Forgive, forgive fo foul a flaughter, 
And lye all night between my breifts, u J 

No youth mall eyer lye there after* 

f4. Return, return, O mournfuj, mournful bride, 
Return and dry thy ufelefs forrow : 
Thy luver heeds nought of thy fighs, 

If e lyes a corps in the Braes of Yarrow, %$$ 


*b 4 XXV. A 


176 a n:cient poems, 


XXV. 
ADMIRAL HOSIER'? GHOST, 


fas written by the ingenious author ^Leonidas, on 
the taking of Porto Bello from the Spaniards by Admiral 
Vernon, Nov. zz. 1739. — The cafe of Hofier* which is 
here fo pathetically represented* was briefly this. In April, 
17269 that commander wasfent with a ftrong fleet into the 
Spanijh Weft -Indies, to block up the galleons in the Ports 
of that country* or Jhould they prefume to come out, to feize 
and carry them into England: he accordingly arrived at the 
Baft intent os near Porto Bello* but being reftriSed by his 
orders from obeying the diSatgs of his courage* lay ina&ive 
on that flation until he became the j eft of the Spaniards : he 
afterwards removed to Carthagena* and continued cruizing 
in thefe feas* till far the greater part of his men perijbed 
deplorably by the difeafes of that unhealthy climate. This 
brave man* feeing his beft officers and men thus daily fwept 
away, Us Jhips expqfed to inevitable deftKufiion* and bi#t- 
felf made the fport of the enemy* is faid to have died of a 
broken heart. ' See Smollet*s hift. 

The following fong is commonly accompanied with a Seconcf 
Part* or JInJwer* which being of inferior merit* and ap~ 
parent ly written by another hand* hath been rejected. 

AS near Porto-Bello lying 
On the gently fwelling Hood, 
At midnight with flreamers flying 
Qur triumphant navy rode \ 

There 


ANCIENT POEMS. 377 

There while Vernon fate" all-glorious 5 

From the Spaniards' late defeat ; 
And his crews, with fhouts victorious, 

Drank fuccefs to England's fleet ; 

On a fudden Jhrilly founding, 

Hideous yells^and ihrieks were heard ; 10 

Then each heart with fear confounding, 

A fad troop of ghofts appear'd, 
All in dreary hammocks fhrouded, 

Which for winding-fheets they wore. 
And wi^h looks by fofrow clouded 15 

Frowning on that hoftUe fhore. 

On them gleam'd the moon's wan luftre, 

When the {hade of Hofier brave 
His pale bands was feen to mutter 

Rifing from their watry grave : 20 

O'er the glimmering wave he hy'd him, 

Where the Burford # rearM her fail, 
With three thoufand ghofts befide him, 

And in groans did Vernon hail. 

Heed, oh heed our fatal ftory, 25 

I am Hofier's injur'd ghoft, , 

You, who now have purchas'd glory, 
At this place where I was loll ! 


Tho* 


f Tbe AdmiraFsJhip, 


gf ANCIENT POEMS. 

Tho* in Forto-HeHo't tvia 

Yon now triumph free from fears, jo 

When you think on our undoing, 

Yon will mix your joy with tears. 

Sec thefe mournful fpe&rts (Weeping 

Ghaftly o'er this hated wave, 
Whofe wan cheeks are ftain'd with weepings 35 

Thefe were Englifh captains brave ; 
Mark thofe nambers pale and horrid, 

Thofe were once my Tailors bold, 
Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead, 

While his difmaj tale is told. 4.9 

J, by twenty fail attended, 

Did this Spanifh town affright; 
Nothing then its wealth defended 

But my orders not to fight : 
Oh I that in this rolling ocean 4 J 

I had call them with difdain, 
And obey'd my heart's warm motion 

To have quell'd the pride of Spain ! 

For refinance I could fear none, 

But with twenty {hips had done . 59 

What thou, brave and happy Vernon, 

Hail atchiev'd with fix alone. 

Then 


i 


ANCIENT PO E~A$ S, 379 

Then the bafiimentos never 

Had oar font dUhonour fan, 
Nor the Tea the fad receiver • 55 

Of this gallant train had been. 

Thus, like thee, prood Spain difmaying, 

And her galleons leading home, 
Though condemned for difobeying 

I had met a traitor's doom, 60 

To have fallen, my. country crying 

He has play'd an Englifli part, 
Had been better far than dying 

Of a griev'd and broken heart. 

Unrepining at thy glory, 69 

Thy fuccefsful ^rms we hail ; 
But remember our fad ftory, 

And let Hofier's wrongs prevail. 
Sent in this foul clime to languiih, 

Think what thousands fell in vain, . 70 

Wafted with difeafe and anguilh, 

Not in glorious battle, (lain. 

Hence with all my train attending 

From their oozy tombs below, 
Thro 9 the hoary foam afcendmg, 75 

Here I feed my constant woe : 

Here 


2*9 ANCIENT POE MS. 

Here the baftimentos viewing, 

We recal our flwmeful doom. 
And oar plaintive cries renewing, 

Wander thro' the midnight gloom.. So 

O'er tbefe waves for ever mourning 

Shall we roam depriv'd of reft, 
If to Britain's mores returning 

You negleft my juft requeft; 
After this proud foe fubduing, 85 

When your patriot friends you fee, 
Think on vengeance for my ruin, 

And for England iham'd in me* . 


XXVI. 
jfcMMY DAWSON. . 

James Dawson <was one of the Manchejler rebels, <voho 
•was banged, alranvn, and quartered on Kennington Common 
in the County of- Surrey, July 30. 1746.— This ballad is 
founded on a remarkable f aft, nuhicb was reported to have 
happened at bis execution* It ivas written by the late 
William Sh en stone, Efq\ foon after the event, and 
has beep printed amongjl bis pofihumous worts, 2 vols. 8<z/0- 
It is here given from a MS copy, which contained fome fmall 
variations from that lately printed* 

COME 


A;NC1ENT POEMS. 3S1 

COME. liftea to my mournful ule, :: * 
Ye tender hearts, and. lovers dear ; 
Nor will you fcorn to {leave a figh,. 
Nor will you blirfh to Hied a lean 

And thou, dear Kitty, : peerle6 maid, 5 

Do thou a penfive car incline ; 
For thou, canfl weep at every woe, . 

And pity every plaint, but mine. • 

Young Dawfon was a gallant youth, 

A brighter never trod the plain ; jo 

And wellihe lov'd one charming maid, 

And dearly was he lov'd again. 

One tender maid fne lov'd him dear, 

Of gentle blood the damfel came, 
And faultlefs was her beauteous form, 15 

And fpotlefs was her virgin fame. 


» 
Bat carfe on party's hateful ftrife, 

That led the faithful youth aftray, 

The day the rebel clans appearM : 

O had he never fee^ri (hat day ! 

Their colours and their fa(h he wore, 
And in the fatal drefs was found ; 

And now he muft that death endure, 

Which gives the brave the keeneft wound. 


How 


aft ANCIENT *Ottii. 

How pate wa* then Ills tree toe's &*k, ij 

When Jenriny* fentenee.i'eaen'cl htf ear f 

For never yfetdid Alpine fnows* 
So pale, nor yet fo chill appear. 

With faltering Wee lie weeping fatt, 
Oh Dawforf, monarch of my ke**t, 3d 

Think not thy death foal* end 0** kwes* 
For Jthoa and X will never part* ■ 

Yet might, fweet mercy find a place* ' 
I And bring relief to Jemmy 'a wafcs* 

O <jepu3b, without a prayer for thee 3 J 

My orifons ihould never dofe* 

The gracious prince that gives him Kfe 
Would crown a never-dying flame, 

And every tender babe I bore 
Should learn to lifp the giver's name. 40 

But though, dear youth, thou ihouldft be dragg'd 

To yonder ignominious tree, 
Thou (halt act want a faithful friend 

To fhare thy bitter fate with thee. 

O then her mourning coach was calPd, 4; 

The fledge mov'd flowly on before ; 
Tho' borne in a triumphal car, . 
_ She had not lov'd her favourite more, . 

She 


A N C I E NT POIM& $3 

She follow*! hha* prepaid 10 viw 

Thtf terrible btfeefl* of law ; 50 

And tfc* 1ttH &&# of jeauarf 's w*et 

With caha and itead&ft eyfe Ihe &w, '. 

Diftorted was that bltomltig fate, 
Which fee had fondly loVd To long : 

And ftifled was that tuneful breath, 55 

Which hi her praife had fwtetiy fang : 

And fever'd was that beauteous neck, 
Round which her arms had fondly clos'd : 

And mangled was that beauteous breaft, 

On which /her love-lick head repos'd : 60 

And raviih'd was that con ft ant heart, 

®h* did it Cterf htttt prefer; 
For tho' it could his king forget, 

'Twas true and loyal Hill to her. 

Amid thofe unrelenting flames 65 

She bore this con ft ant heart to fee ; 
But when 'twas moulder'd into duft, 

Now, now, (he cried, I'll follow thee. 

My death, my death alone can fhow 

The pure and lafting love I bore : 70 

Accept, O heaven, of woes like ours, 

And let us, let us weep no more. 

* The 


r' 


384 ANCIENT POJMi 

The difinal fcene -was o'er and paft, 
The lover's mournful hearfe retir'di 

The maid drew hack her languid head, . . 7 j 
And fighing forth his name, expir'd. , , 

Tho* juftice ever muft prevail. 

The tear my Kitty fheds is due j 
For feldom {hall ihe hear a tale 

So (ad, fo tender, and fo true* 6a 


THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK- 


1 

1 

1 


**■* 


A G L O S- 


3*5 


A GLOSSARY 


*>F THE OBSOLETE AND SCOTTISH WORDS IN 


VOLtate THE SECONi). 


Such words, at the reader cannot find hire, be it deftredt* 
look for in tie Gltjfariet to the other vohmttl 


* ' 

ADcid of nicht. s. />. 102. 
in dead of night. 

Aboven ous. above us. ■ 

Advoutry, Advoiiterous; adul- 
ter % adulterous* 

Aff. 8. off. 

Ahte. ought. 

Aith. s. oath. 

Al.>. 5. albeit, although* 

Alemaigne. f. Germany* 

Alyes./». 28. probably corrupted 
for algates. always. 

Ancient, a flag, banner. 

Angel, a gold coin worth 10 s* 

Ant. and. 

Apliht. p. 10. al aplyht. 9K1/* 
complete. 

Argabuflie. hurquebuje,an old" 
jajbioned kind of mufkit. 

Ale. or. 
Vol. II. 


Attowre. s. out over, over and 
, above. 

Azein, agein. againft. 
Azontthe ingle. s./>. 61. beyond 

the fire. The fire was in the 

middle of the room** 

B. 

Bairded. 3. bearded* . 

Bairn, s. r&A/. 

Bale, *w7, mif chief mfery. 

Balow. s. anurfery term, bujbl 
lullaby! &d 

Ban. curfe. banning, curfing. 

Battes. heavy flicks* clubs. 

Bayard, a noted blind borfe in 

the old romances . The borfe 

on which . the four fins of 

Aymon rode, is called Bayard 

C c Mont- 


* In the weft 6f Scotland, at this prefent time, in many cottages 
they pile their peats and turfs upon ftones in the middle of the room* 
There is a hole above the fire in the ridge of thehoufe to let the fmoke 
out at. In fome places are cottage-houfes, from the front of 
which a very wide chimney projects like a bow window : the fire is 
in a grate like a malt-kiln grate, round which the people fit : fome- 
times they draw this grate into the middle of the room* (Mr. L AMBS.) 


sW 


A GLOSSARY. 


Montalbon, by Skelton in bis 

" PbfflpSparr*w. n 
Be. s. by. Be that, by that time. 
Beam, bairn, s. cbild; alfo 

AHMI CreOtUfe. 

Bed. p. y. bade* 

Bede. ^. 17. qflrr, engage* 

Befall. /. 7s. befallen* 

Befoir. s. before. 

Belive. immediately f prefently.. 

Ben. «. vAtbin, the inner room. 

p. «**. 
Ben./. |i. *V 9 *r/. 
Bene. f» is. fcoa, «* expref- 

fion of contempt. 
Beotfc.f . 7. fer, «»#. 
Bet the prys. /. 7. for* ibe 

prize* 
Berys. beaTetb. 
Befprent. befprinkled. 
Befted . f. *7 $. a^wfr- 
Bewraies. dUcovers, betrays. 
Bet. fetor. Bett. did beat. 
Bi mi leaute* £j my loyalty, bo* 

nefy. 
Birk. s. birch-tree* 
Biee. complexion. 
Blent, f. 144. ceafed. 
Blink, s. aglimpfe ofb'gbt t tbe 

fudden light of a candle feen 

in tbe night at a dtfiauce. 
Boifti boinerk. 8. boa/I, boafl- 

ers. 
Boliy*. p. bowls. 
Bonny. a. bandjbme f comely. 
Bopte. £om, advantage. 


Bot. 8. to/ s fometimes ttfiems 
mfidfor « to#, er « 6^;, 
* moreover.* 

Bot. 8. ivitbout. Bot dreid. 
without dreaa\ i. *, tfr- 

Bougils. s* fog/* &>nw. 

Bowne. ready. 

Braes of Yarrow, s. /£* W/jf 
tanfo gf the river Yarrow. 

Brade, braid. 8. broad. 

Braifly. e. bravely. 

Braw* a. brave* 

Brayd. s. arofe, baftened. 

Brayd attowrethe bent. s. bqft» 
ed over tbe field. 

Brede. breadth, SoCbauc. ' 

Brenand drake, f. 19. nujf 
perhaps be tbe fume as afrf- 
drake, or fiery ferpent, a 

. meteor or fire-work fo catt- 
ed: Here it feems tofigntft 
" burning embers or fre* 
" brands," 

JJrimme. puBBc, untverfidty 
known. Pi.. S. bryrne. idenr. 

Brouk her with vrinnt.enjoy her 
ivitb pieafitre. A. S. brok. 

Broueh. an ornamental trinket .- 
afione buckle for a nvomofft 
breafl. &c. Fid. Brooche, 
Glojf. vol. 3. 

Brozt. p. wrought. 

Buen, bueth. been, he, are. 

Buik. s. book. 

Burgens. buds 9 young floats. 

Bulk 


• "But o* houfe** means the outer part of the houfe, outer-rota; 
Vis. that part of the houfe into which you firft enter, fuppofe, from the 
Aree*. Ben o* houfe," is the inner room, or more retired part of the 
fcoufe.— The daughter did not Ke out of doors.— The cottagers often 
defise their landlords tptuild them a But, and a Bjen. (Vid. Gk>(T. 
t»Y*i,JU.) MnLAMBE. 


A GLOSSARY. 


3*7 


Bulk ye. s. drefsye. 

But. without* but let. without 

hindrance. 
Bute. 8. boot, advantage, good. 
Butt. 8. out, the outer room. 

C. 

Cadgily. s. merrily, chearfully. 
Calivcr, a kind ofmujket. 
Can curtefye, know, under* 

fi and good manners. 
Cannes. p. %i. wooden cups, 

bowls. 
Cantabanqui. Ital. ballad Jing* 

ers, fingers on benches.. 
Canty, s. cbearful. chatty. 
Can tics, pieces , corners. 
Capul. a poor horfe. 
Carle, churl, chwn. It is alfo 

ufed in the North, for afirong 

hale old num. 
Carline. s. the feminine of 

Carle. 
Carpe. to/peak, recite : alfo, 

to cenfure. 
Carping, reciting. 
Chayme. p f 66. Cain. 
Che. (Somerfet dialed.) I. 
Cheis. 8. choofe. 
Cheefe. p. *\. the upper part of 

thefcutcbeon in heraldry. 
Chill. (Som. dial.) I wit 
Cnouid (ditto.) I would. 
Chylded. brought forth, was 

delivered. 
CbyUJer. children, children's. 
Clattered, beatfo as to rattle. 
Clead. 8. clad, clout h. 
Clenking. clinking, jingling, 
Clepe. call. 
Cohorttd, incited, exhorted. 


Cokeney./. %^.feems to be a 
diminutive for Cook ; frofn . 
the Latin .Coquinator, or 
Coquinarius. The meaning 
feems to be, that " Every 
* l Five and Five bad a Cook 
" or Scullion to attend them." 
Chaucer's Cant. Tales, %vo. 
Vol. IV. p.m. 

Cold roft. (apbrafe) nothing 
to the purpqje. 

Com. p. 8. came. 

Con, can. gan. began. Item. 
Con formge(aphraf*)fprung, 
Con fare. went,paffed. 

Coote. p. » 50 . (note) coat. ' 

Coft. coafi,fide. 

Coty4yallye. daily, every day. 

Covetife, covetoufnefs. 

Could bear, apbrafe for bare. 
Could creip. s. crept. Could 
fay. faid. Could weip. s f . 
wept. 

Could his good. p. 255. Kne-w. 
what was good for him > Or 
perhaps, Could live upon bit 
own. 

Coutjien. £. 9. knew. 

Croft, an mclofure near a houfe. 

Croiz. crofs. 

Crook my knee. p. 64. make 
lame my knee. They fay in 
the nqrtb. " The horfe if 
crookit," i. e. lame. " The 
horfe {rooks. ,** i. e. goes lame* 

Crouneth./>. 8. crpwnye. 

Crumpling, crooked j or perhaps 
with crooked knotty boms. 

Cule. 8. cool. 

Cummer, z.gojfip, friend, ft. 
Cotnmere, compere. 

Cure, care, heed, regard. 
Ccr Dale 


3*8 


A GLOSSARY. 


D. 

Dale. s. dial, f* 75« bot give 

t dale, unlets I deal. 
Dampned. damned. 
Dan. p. ii. an ancient title of 
refteS. 

Dan flee./. 1,4.0. Denmark, query. 

Darh./>. 10. perbafs for Thai, 
there. 

DarrM. 8. bit. 

Dart the trie. s. bit the tree. 

Daukin. diminutive of David. 

Daunger hault. coynefs holdeth. 

Deare day. charming, pie of ant 
day. 

Dede is do.'/. 31. deed Is done. 

Deere. burt f mifebief. 

Deerlye dight. richly fitted out. 

Deimt. s. deemed, epcemfd. 

Deuvs. dear. Item; hurt, trou- 
ble, difiurh. 

Dele. deal. 

Deme, deemed, judge, doomed. 

Dent. p. 17. a dint, blow. 

Deol. dole, grief. 

Dere, deere. dear : aljb hurt, 

Derked. darkened. 

Dern. s.fecret. p. 75. I* dcrn. 
infecret. 

Devyz. de*uife, the a3 of be- 
queathing by will. 

Deze, deye. die. 

Dight s dicht. s. decked, dreffed. 
prepared, fitted out, done 

DiM.ftitt, cam, mitigate* 

DoX.fee Deol. Dule. 

Don./. down. 

Doughtinefs of dent. Jhtrdinefs 
of blows. 

Doz-trogh. a dough-trough, a 
kneading- trough. 

Dozter. daughter v 

Drie. %.fyfffK> 


Drowe. drew. 

Drake. See Brenand Drake. 

Dryng. drink. 

Dude. did. 

Dule. s. duel, dol. dole, grief* 

Dyce. s. dice, chequer-work. 

Dyht./. 10. to difpofe, order* 

Dyne. s. /. 98. dinner. 

Dyzt. i/ii. dight. 

E. 

Eard. e. earth. 
Earn. s. to curdle, Make tbetfe. 
Eiktd.s. p. 7 6. added,enlarged* 
Elvifh. peevifb : —fantaftical. 
Ene. s< eyn. eyes. Ene. s. even* 
Enfue. follow. 

Kntendcment. f.under/landjng. 
Ententifly. to the intent', fur- 

pofely. 
Er, ere. before. Ere. ear. 
Ettled* aimed. j 

F. 

Fader : Father is. s. father: fa* 

tbers. 
Fair of feir. 8. of a fear aid 

healthful look (Ramfay)Per* 

baps, far off (free from) fear. 
Falling, dealing infaljbood. 
F*n£. /. fets&e, carry of. ' 
Fannes.^. »i. infirumentsflsr 

winnowing com. 
Tzrt.go,pafs, travel. 
Fare, the price of a pajage :{. 

%6.Jbot, reckoning. 
Fauzt j faucht. t.Jiugbt.ltenh 

>jigbt. 
Feil. s. /. 78. fele. m$. 

So Hardinge las Lords fele 

i» #0 many Lord*. #«/ #39. 




A GLOSSARY. 


386 


felay.feMow. 

Fele, fell, furious, p. zj.Jkin. 

Fend, defend. 

"F^re.fear. It. companion, wife. 

Ferliet. s. wondered. 

Fcrly. wonder ',alfo, wonderful. 

Fey. s . predeflinated to death, 

or fome misfortune y under a 

fatality, 
Feztyng. p. fighting. 
Fie. s. beafls, cattle. 
Firth, Frith, s.p. 7.7. a wood. 

It. an arm oftbeSeaA .fretum . 
Fit. %.fgot. 


human creature. 

Freyke. p. 125. humour , in* 
dulgefreakijhly, capricioufly, 
Freyned. ajked. 
Frie. 8. ht.free. 

G. 

Ga, gais. s. go, goes. 
Gaberlunzie. gaberlunyie. t* 

a 'wallet. 
Gaberlunzie- man. s. a walr 
let- man, i. e. tinker, beggar t . 
Gadlings. gadders, idle fel- 
lows. , 
Fitt. divifion, part. See the end Gadryng. gathering. 

of the Gloffary *. Galliard. a fprightly kind rf 

Fles. p. fleece. dance. 

Fleyke, p. 122. a large kind of Gar. s. to make, caufe, &c. 
hurdle: Cows are frequently Gzyed.madegaj/ (their cloaths) 
milked in hovels made of Gear,geire,geir,gair.s.£00<//, 
Fleyks. effeBs, fluff. 

Flowan. 8. flowing. Geere will fway. /, 190. this 

Fond, contrive i alfo, endea- matter will turn out 5 affair 


vour, try. 
Force, p. 140. no force, no 

matter. 
Forced, regarded, heeded. 
Forefend. avert, binder. 
For -fought./. 22. over -fought. 
Forwatcht. over- watched, kept 

awake. 
For s. p. 1*. I do no fore. I don't 

care. 
Forft. p. 69. heeded, regarded. 
Fowkin. a cant wordforafart. 
Fox't. drunk. 
Frae.thay begin, p.. 75. from 

their beginning \from the time 

ibey begin. 
Freers, fryars. friars, monks. 
Freake, ireeke, freyke. man, 


terminate. 
Gederede ys froft. gathered his 

bofl. 
Gef. geve.give. 
Geft. p. 277. a&y feat, flory % 

hiflory. (It is Jeft in MS.) 
Gie, gien. s. give, given. 
Gillore. (Irijb.) plenty. 
Gimp. jimp. s, neat,JUnder, 
Girt. s. pierced. Throughgirt, 

p. 7 1 . pierced through. 
Give. s. gif,.giff. p. 75. if. 
Glaive, f.fword. 
Glen. s. a narrow valley. 
Glie. s. glee, merriment, joy. 
Glift. s. gliflered. 
Gode, gcdnefs. good, gooduefs. 
C c 3 God 


* Titts, \. e. u divifions or pi its in milfic" are alluded to iA 
TroUus an4 Crcflid*. A. Ul. fc. u Vol, 9. p. 64. St**y*m's edit. 


s$* 


A GLOSSARY. 


God before, p. S*. i.e- God 
be thy glide: aform qfblef- 

Good. p. t$.fe. * good deal. 
Good-e'ens. good-e enings. 
Gorget, the drefsqftbe neck. 
Go wan. s. the common yellow 

crowfoot, orgoldcup. 
Graitbed (gowden). s. was ca- 

parifoned with gold. 
Gray tfced./>. decked,putott. 
Gree. f. pr t%e , nri&ory. 
Greened, grew green, 
Grtt.p. 9. great, p. 8. grieved, 

fwoln, ready to burft. 
Grippe), griping, tenacious, 

miferly. 
.Grownes. grounds, p. 243. 
(rytbmigratU. Fid.Scrane.) 
Growte+ .In Nortbamptonflnre, 
is a kind of fmaU-beer, ex- 
traced from the malt, after 
tbeflrengtb bas been drawn 
off. In Devon, it is a kind 
Uf fweet ale medicated with 
eggs, faid to be a Dan\[b 
liquor. 
Grype. agriffin. 
Gyrd. /. 1%. girded, la/bed, 

&c. 
Gyhc.jefl.joke. 
Gyles, s. guiles. 
Gyn. engine, contriance. 
Gyfe, •♦ guifs,form, fd/bion. 

. Ha, have, ha. s. baU. 


Habbe, afe he brew.£. 4. btoi 9 
as be brews. 

Haggis. 8. a jbbefs flomach* 
fluffed witb a pudding modi 
of mince- meat i &c. 

Hail, hale. %.wbole,atogetber. 

Halt, holdeth. 

Hame, hamward. borne, borne* 
ward. 

Han. bane, i.perfipbtr. 

Hare . . fwerdes. p. 4. tberr. % 
fwords. 

Harnifine. barnefs, armour. 

Harrowed. baraffed t difturbed* 

Jrlarwos. barrows. 

Hav. bave. 

Haves (of) p. 16. effe8s,ful> 
flame, ricbes. 

Hwkin. Jynotrymous toHdkm, 
dimin. of Harry. 

He. p. 21 . bie, baflen. 

Hech.^. batch, fnudldmr. 

Hfide. />. 17. bied. p. 8. Ar*<fj 
be would. p. 36. heed. 

Hed. bead. 

Heare, here.^. 69. hair. 

Heil. s. hele. health. 

Hecht to lay thee law. s. pro- 
tnifed, engaged to lay thee 
low. 

Heicht. s. height. 

Heiding-hill. 8. tbe *beadii$ 
[i. e. beheading'] Mil. *fl>e 
place of execution was anci- 
ently an artificial hillock. 

Helen, heal. 

Helpeth. 


4 So in Shaltefpear's K. Hen. V. (A. 3. fc. 8.) the King ftyt, 

« My army's but a weak and fickly guard j 

" Yet, GodBefori, tell him we will come on." t 

^ Giowtk is a kind of fare much tifed by Danifh failors, being 

boiled groats (i.e. hailed oats) or elfe /helled barley, Termed up very 

thick, and butter added to it. Mr. LambJ, 


A GLOSSARY. 


39* 


Helped), help ye. 

Hsva.tbem. 

Henne. hence. 

Heat* herite. held, laid bold of: 

alfo, received* 
Her./. 17. i^. 15. fl&Wr. 
Here*/, s. their, p. $5. /razr. 

/. 38. itair. 
Herkfteth* hearken ye., 
Hcrt, herds. Arar* j hearts. 
Hes. t. 6*f, 

■Hct..fof« 

Hethen s. £*a/£» a bwfbrub, 

that grows upon the moors, 

&c. fo luxuriantjy, as to 
- choakthe graft } to prevent 

which the inhabitants fet 
. , •whole acres of it on fire j the 

rapidity of which gave tfje 
.'■ poit that, apt and noble Jimtle 

in p. 107. (Mr, Hutcbinfon.) 
Heuch. s. a rock prjkep bill. 
Hevede; hevedeft. bad, bad/f. 
Heverichc, hevenrichc. bea- 

vejtiy.p. 8. 
Heyze. high. Heyd. s. hied. 
Hicht : a-hicht. s. on height. 
-Hit damea-to wail. s. p. 105. 

high [or, great] ladies to 

wail\ Or, hafifn ladies to 

wail, &c. 
HitfkLpromijed, engaged: alfo, 
- named* 
Hilb taken off, flayed. Sap. hyl 

das. 
Hmch-boys. hench- {properly 
haunch-) men, pages of ho- 
. now : pages attending on 
perfons of office* 
Hind. 3. behind. 
Hiimy. a. honey. 
Hit. it. hit be yaxtt.p. %. itje 
written. 


V \ 
I 


Holdem bold. 

Holtis hair. 8. /. 7S. boat bills, 
Holy-roode. holy crop* 
' Hoaden wrvnge. bands wring. 
Hop-halt, limping; boppingyund 

baiting. 
Houzle. give" the facrament. 
Howeres, howera. hours. 
Huerte. heart. 
Hye, hyeft. high, bigbe/f. 
Hynd attowre. 3. behind, ovef 9 

or about. ' * 
Hyp-halt, lame in the lip. 
Hys. lns\ alfo, is. 
Hyt, hytt. //. 
Hyznes. bighnefs. 


I. 


Janglers. talkative perfons, 
tell-tales. Alfo wranglers. 
fere, together. 
f lore, lojf. I.ftrike. firicken, 
'-irowe. [I believe,] verify, 
-wifle, [I know,] verily . 
ch. /. Ich biqueth. 1 bequeath, 
Jen kin. diminutive of John. 
"Ik : this ilk. 8. this fame. 
Ike. /. * iS. every ilke. every 

one. 
Ik one. each one. 
Ufardly. s. illfavcurWy, ug- 
lify. 
nowe. enough. 
nto. 3. in. 

Jo. *. fweet-beart, friend. Yo 
is property the contraSion of 
Joy, fo rejoice is written re- 
joce in old Scottifb MSS. par- 
ticularly BanatvneH paffm. 
Io forth, f. %o.Jbouldprobabb 

be loo. t.e. halloo. 
Is. /. 4. bis, 

c © * ift. 


.«* 


59* 


X G LOSS A* * 


Jfe.s.J/Uff f 

Its neir. t*/. ioo. UJhallnfer. 
jtyp*« *. jp. »o6. <w upper gaf- 
men}* fr. a petticoat, 

K. 

Kauk. s. f&att* 

Keipand. s< keeping. 

JCeeT. s raddle* 

xitmyt*. foldiers, ivarr tours. 

Kend. s. knew, 

Kene. £**«. 

Kid, kyd, kithed. jp?4? htow*y 
Jb<ywn. 

Kind, kinde. nature, p. 15. 
To carp is our kind. s> *# 
natural for us to talk of. 

K-inp. s. rA*r». 

&ith and Kin. acquaintance 

and kindred. 
itowe. /. Cnv. 
Kye. 4/oi, fttur. 
Kirtel, kirtle. petticoat. 
itLythe* appear j *#*, *w#4r #/. 

/* <z r, ^^u;, declare. 
K-ythed. s. appeared. 

L. 

Xane, lain. s. &»*. her lane, 

alone, by herfelf. 
Laide unto hex. /. 2 ^.imputed 

to her. 
Lafle, /^/}. 

1-ayn.e. • //** : fl^ f /*/,/. 
Leek,/. 7 o . phrafe oj contempt. 
Xeal, Teil- s. /^/, &w*/?, true, 

f. loyal. 
Leiroan, 1 eman. lover > mifirefs* 
Leir.,s. lere. learn. 
linger, longer. 
Lengeth in./. 274. refidetb in. 


Lett, latte; bmde*^ ftr.jisttu 
***, fori/* <#. late. &/.-• 

Leyer, rather. * 

Leves and bo wear., leaver and 

bought. • » ^* 

Leuch, leagh; s. toughed* 
L'eyke, Ilk* /Avp. f . iftf^jMR 
Lie. s. lee. /. \o^. fields plain'* 
Liege-men, wafak, JatfeSh, 
Lightly* * ajfty*'* * '*-- 
hue. fte/b. compietmn. • • * 
Lodlye. /. e>. katbfime, t»d' 

Glofi.tvbl. jVlothty. 
Lo'e, s. /Sow; '*'.',' 

Loo*: jtafoo.' **■ • 'f» : -* 
Lore. Z^a, dteJfimr, katimu** 
Lore. A^. ■•* ruw.\.i. ■ * 

lAttel.afonyyW&tbUfftpVfln* 
Wei. <*tf*. l '<' ' 

Loud andftfll. pbr.ateMiaes. 
Lought'; lowe.' toughed*,* - 1 -- 
Lowns. s. /». 102. blotter* fa- 
ther oppofeef to <tabidjft&#e- 
rous. ' ,v "V 

Lowte, lout. bvt0,Jhop* * 
Lude, luid, luivt. s. fowftft 
Luiks. •• A»/hr, ' -'.M* 
Lyard. /. 19. (Sraj. *- juaBt^ 
V'W '• a hrfiJHmitfigreV 
colour, as Bayard fr*m*ayv 
Lys. A*/. : • « : - -f* 

Lythe. ^. 1 70. eafy, gentfe * 
Lyven na more. /^ a» ' mof ^a] 

no hnger. 
Lyzt; /#&. 


M. 


7 


Maden. made. -~* 

Making, p. 46. fc< iMtrfiit 

wtrfifying. \ ^ moI/ * 
Marrbw. 8. equal. x -' x " 

Mart.$.Marrtd } burHd***£«& ' : 

Mane, 


A GLOSSARY, 


$99 


Mane,mainiag. s.moetn ,moan- 
ing. 

Mangonel.' an engine ufedfor 
Mfcbarging great fiones, ar» 
rows, &c. before the inven- 
tion of gunpowder. 

Margarite. a pearl, lat. 

Maugre. p. 4. fpite of* P* 7$* 
iff-will(f incur.) 

Me./.. 9. men.Me iron >merigan* 

Me-thuncketh. me thinks. 

Mean, moderate, middle-fixed. 

Meit. s meet.//, proper. 

Meid. s./». 105. /»W, 

Meife s. f of ten, reduce, miti- 
gate* p. ia8. 

M-eU .£«**?. Alfojneddle,mingle. 

Meitfe the taught, s..^. 105. 
meafure the battle. To give 
to the menfe, */, to £*i/* 
4&0/W: {£* meafure* Twelve 
and one to the menfe, is 
common with children in their 
play. 

Menzie. 8. meaney. retinue, 
company, 

Meflager. f. meffenger* 

Minny. s. mother . 

M>rke.. s. darky black. 

Mirry. s, nieri. merry. 

Mifkaryed- mi/carried* 

Mifter. s. to need. 

Mo> moe. «wr* 

Moiening. £y means of. fir. 

Mome. adull,flupidperfon* 

Mone. moon. 

More, mure* s. moor, heath x 
marfhy ground \ alfp wild 
hill. p. 4. mores ant the 
feline ; . 5. d* hill and dale, 

florae, f • 7 5 . to mom. to-mor- 
row : in the morning. 

^©rnjri»g,f, 45. mourning. 


Mote I thee, might I tbr ie. 
Mowe. may, mou. s. mouth* 
MucheJe boft. mickle boa/l*, 

great boafl* 
Mude. s. mood. 
Mulne. mill. 
Murnc, njurnt, muming. t* 

mourn, mourned, mourning* 
Myztj myzty. might \ mighty* 

N. 

Nathelefs. never thelefs. 
Near. s. ner. nere. ne'er yWVfr* 
Neat, oxen, cows, large cattle* 
Neatherd, a keeper of cattle. 
Neatreffe. a female ditto. 
Nere. p. 3174. ne 'were 5 were 

it not for. 
Neft} nyeft. next% near eft. 
Noble, a gold coin in value 19 

groats, or 6s. %d* 
Nollys, p. noddles, heads* 
Nom. p. %. took. Nome, name* 
Non. none. None, noon. 
Nonce, purpofe. for the nonce, 

for the occafion* 
Norfe. s. Norway* 
Nou, now 
Nout 5 nocht. s. nought : alfe*> 

not. Nout. />. 10. y>/«w /#* 

' ne mought.* 
Nowght. nought* 
No Wis. noddles, heads * 
Nozt. nought, not^ 
Nyzt. night* 

o« 

Ocht. s. ought* 

Oferlyng. fuperior, paramount* 

opppfed to underling./. 4. 
Qn. p* 45. 0/»*| <z*« 

On- 


m 


A GLOSSARY, 


On-loft. p. iS. aloft. 
Ortya. once. 
0r. ere, before. 
% Orifons. 8. prayers: f. oraifbns. 
Ou, ourc. p. 7 i you f your, ibid* 

our. 
Out alas? exclamation of grief* 
Out onto. t. Wf/ oven 
Owene: awen, aims. 0<uw. 
Owre. s. overt 

P. 

Pan!?, perdie. *vn#. f. ptr 
dieti. 

Paitky. s. firevjd, cunnings 
fly. or,faucy, injblenu 

Pefe /*>r*. y?. if cannon. 

Pees, pefe. £*«r*. 

Pele. a baker's peel. 

Pentarchye of teafe*. five ten* 
fes. 

PercKmine. f. parchhent. 

Per fay. s. verily, f. par fdjr« 

Perkin. diminutive if Peter* 

Periit. 8. pearced. pierced* 

Petye. />/fy. 

Peyn. i^ra. 

Pibrocns. 8. Highland ntoar* 
turns. 

Playimd. s. plafing. 

Plett.s. platted. 

Plyzt. plight. 

Plowmetl.^. 2i. afmallvjood- 
tn hammer occnyionaVy fixed 
to the plow, ft ill vfed in the 
North : in the midland coun- 
ties in its ftead is ufed a 
Plow- Hatchet. 

Poll-cat. a cant vJord for a 
whore. 

Pollys, powllfr, Jjolls. head. 

Pondered, p. 19. a term iu 
titt aldrj y for fprinkled over* 


Powife, *»&, hiads* 

Prayfe-foik, p. 
Pre*, f. ready. 
Prief*. p. tj. promt* 
Priving. t. proving, ugrorr* 
Prove, p. 4*. proof. 
Prude, p. i.ptidei'h. proud. 
Piling, s. pulling. 
Purchaled. />. u. procured* 
Purvayed. provided. 

Quat. s* quitted. 

Quaint./. %%%. cunning .p. 14$* 

nice,fantaftical. 
Quel. p. 1*5. rrvrf. awrt&roa/. 
QaiUet*. quibbles i 1. qetdtibtt. 
Quyle. «. weifo 
Quyt.i* 9*fc. 
Qwyknit. 8. quickened, refiorU 

uUfe. 

R, 

» • 

Rae. « m . 

Raik. s k /<?^o rfpar*. Raik 0* 
raw. £0 yij^ 1 » a row. 

Ranted. 9. p. 6. were merry, 
vid. Gt. to Gent. Shepherd. 

Raught. reached, gained, ob- 
tained. 

Razt. raught, or p. refU 
bereft. 

Rea*me, resume, realm. 

Rede, redde. />. 9. read. 

Rede, read. p. 31. advife,*d* 
trice. 

Redrefle. p. 7 1. cat*, labour. 

Refe, reve, reeve. bailiff* • 

Refe, bereave, or • perhaps, 
rive, fplit. p* m - 

Reid. o.advift. 

7 . v v Remeid. 


A GLOSSARY. 


39S 


ReraeicL 8. remedy* 

Refcous. refcues.- 

Reve. /. 194 bereave , deprive. 

Refers. s. robbers, pirates, ro- 
vers. 

TZt*» 9. take pity* 

Rin. s. r»». 

Rife* £. 27$. y^o^/, bujb,jbrub. 

Rive. />. 279. W/>, abounding*- 

Rood loft, /jfe /far* i» *fo 
eburcb where the images 
were Jet up. 

Rudd. ruddtnefs? complexion. 
. Rud«. s. rood, rrq/x. 

Ruell-bones. jb\ 18. perhaps 

> iwtef diverfty coloured, f. ri- 
- jsleu~~*r perhaps 9 finaU bone- 
rings, from toe Fr. rouelte, 
yau?// ri«gr en £o#. Cot- 

*» gkaw. Di8ion. 

Rugged. />. 13. /«Z/W wi# 
violence, 

Rufliy. s./. 7%. Jbould be r&ftiy 
gair, rtt#p ,/?*#; ground co- 
vered with rujhes. 
KRtrfheV p. 42. /*"#. />. 205, 
woe,. 

Ryfehys: rujbett 

Rywe. r«*.~ 

Ryzt; ng£/< 


S, 


Safer. />. fafhyre* 

Saif. t.fave. Savtly.fafefy. 

Saifede. feized. 

Say. />. 2 8 . a^Siy, attempt, 

Scssnt. fcarce. 

SchalL/teO. 

Shattered, flattered* 

Sflbaw. s.Jbow. 

Schcne. 8. Jbeeni Jbining\ It* 

• *0rigbtnefi. 


Schiples. s.Jbiplefs. 
Scho. s.Jbe. 
Schuke. s.Jbook. 
Sclat. flate : p.it, little table- 
book offiates to write upon. 
Scomfit. difcomfit. 
Scot, tax, revenue, p. 5. a 

^year's tax of the kingdom ; 
alfofbot, reckoning, 
Se; fene; (eying. fee\ feen\ 

feeing. 
See,- fees. s.fea,J/as. 
Sely,(eeiy. felly ifimple. 
Selven. felf. 
Selver, taller. s.felver. 
Sen* s. fence, 

Senvy. muftard-feed. f. fenvif . 
Seve. /. 279. feven. 
Sey yow. p. u. fay to, till 

you. 

Seyd. t.faw. 

Shave, p. 69. be (have, been 

Jbaven, • 
Sheeve, (hive, a great f ice or 

luncheon of bread, p. 244. 
Shirt of male, or mail, war a 

garment for defence made all 

of rings of iron, worn under 

the coat. According to feme, 

the Hawberk was fo formed. 
Sho. s.Jbe, 
Shope./>. 271. betook me, Jbaped_ 

tnycourfe, 
Shorte. s.Jborten. 
Shrive, confefs. Item, bear con* 

fejfion. 
Shynand. %. Joining. . 
Shutting, recreation, diverfeon, 

paftime. Vid. Caw. Dougl. 

Gloff. 
Shunted. Jbumted. 
Sich, fie. s.fucb. Sich. t.fegb. 
Side. s. long. 

Simile. 


99* 


A GLOSSARY. 


Srodle. $,feJd*M. 
Sitteth. p. 3. Jit ye, 
Skaith, fcath. barm, mifchief. 
Ska Ik. p. 124. perhaps from 
the. Germ. Schalck, malici- 
ous, perverfe, (Sic Dan. 
Skikk. Nequitra, walicia, 
(Sc. Sheringham de Angl. 
Orig-. p. 3iS)— Or perhaps 
frc?n the Germ* Schakhen. 
to f quint. Hence our Northern 
tvord, flcelly, to /quint. 
5k inker, one that /crises 4rink. 
Skomfit. difcomfit. 
Stat. Jhot, reckoning, 
Slattered. flit, broke intojplin- 

ters. 
Sic, ilea, (ley, fio. flay* 
SJee. s. fiy, 
SnAz, apre/ent, 
Sone./eon. p. 9. /oon- 
^onru/>. 176. ion. fun, 
Soth, Tooth, /r«/£$ <$0, fr#*. 
jSoothly. ir/^y. 
Sould. s./hould. 
Soulin?, /. 142. *vifiualling. 
SowTe is J?:// «/W //? //;* w>r/A 
Jor <wy/ '&ff£ **/*» «v>/7j& 
. Mv^* A. S. guple. Supie. 
P'fl^. 21.5. (V to fowle, may 
be from the French 'word 
feouler « c t* fluff and cram, 
* c to glut."'' *vid. Cotgrave.) 
fawne.Jbund p.+j.^rhythmigr.) 


Spec, fpak, fpack. $.fP*k* 9 

Speere. p. 135. 

Speered, fparrcd. i. e.faftenei f 

/but* , <vid. p. 135. 
Speir. s. fpeer. jpear. 
Speir. 8. (^. £2.) fpeeiv (peare* 
/*/&, inquire. Vid.GloJJ'. vol. 3. 
S pence, ipens. ep;pence. 
Spindles and whorles, the in- 
flruments ufed for fpinning be 
Scotland, in the fame manner 
as /pinning wheels here f» 
Spilt. %.fpoilt. 

Spole. /boulder, f. efpauie. 
p. 192. it feems to mean 
" armpit" 
Stalwart, ftalworth.^foirf. 
Start opes. buJkins,or half boots, 
rworn by ruflics, laced doruoit 
before. 
Stead, ftede. £fcr* t 
Steir. s./lir. 

Sttl.fleeJ. fteilly. t.fleely. 
Staund,time, a ftoqnd, a -while, 
Stown. %.ftolen. 
Stoup of weir, a pillar of nvaf* 
Strike./). 12 flricken. 
Stra, ftrae. s.Jtraw, 
Styrt.flart. 

Suthe, fahh.foon, quickly. 
Snore bi ys chin, /worn by big 

chin. 
Sware. /wearing, oath, 
Swa, fa. yi, > 

Swarvde. 


* So in an old " Treatyfe agaynft PefHlence, &c. 4to. Enpryntcd 
* by Wyrtkynde Worde:" we are exhorted to <c Spe*e [i. e. fliut 
** or bar] the wyndowes ayenft the fouth." fol. 5. 

•f- Tkb Rock, Sp-indles, andWHORtis are very much ufed In 
Scotland and the northern parts of Northumberland at this time. 
The thread for Shoe-makers, and even fome Linen-webs, and ajt^he 
twine of which the Tweed Saimonrnets are made, are fpun tfpgn 
spikdlfs. They are (did to, make a inore even an4(mooth thread 
i^aa Spinning-wheels, Mr. Lamb*, 


A GLOSSAfctf. 


3# 


Swarvde, fwarved. climbed. 
Swaird. the grajjyfurface of the 

, ground. 

Swearde, fwerd. fword. 
Swevens. dreams* 
§wypyng. p. 44. flrikingfajl 5 
\Cimb. fuipan, Wto agere, 
or rather ' fcourghg, y from 
*volvere, raptor e.~\ Sect. 
Sweap. tofcourge, Vid. Glojf. 
to Gavj. Douglas. 

Swcpyls. p. 41. A Swepyl is 
that ftaff of the flail, with 
which the corn is beaten out. 
*vufg. a Supple: (called in 
the midland counties a S win d - 
gell j when the other part is 
termed the Hand-ftaff.) 

Swinkers. labourers. 

Swyvipg. 'whoring. 

Syke. figb. 

Syn.Jince. Syne. s. then. 

Syftiemell. p„ 66. Ijbmael. 

bych.fucb. 

gyxh.Jince. 

S^.ftgbt. 

T. 

Take. p. 25. taken.-' 
Taken, s.p. ip8. token ,fign. 
Targe, target, Jbield. 
'fe. to. te make. p. $.to make. 
Te he ! inter je&ion if laughing. 
Tent. s. heed. 

Terry, diminutive of Thierry. 
Tbeodoricus, Didericus. Lat. 
Tha. £.21. zi*/».Thah. though. 
Tbare,tbeire,ther,thore. ffar* • 
The. /to. 


The r thee. thrive. So motel 
thee. £. 8 8 . So may I thrive** 

Thii. p. 479. /J&£y. 

Thi fone./>. 9. tbyfon. 

Thilke. /&/• 

Thir. s. /i&i/, f£*/h 

Thir towmonds ,s . ^r/£ twelve 
months. 

Tho. then. p. 33, tbofe.p. 

Thole j tholed.y^r \fuffered. 
Thouft. thou /bolt, or Jbouldefi. 

Thrang. s. throng: clofe. 

Thrawis. s. throes. 

Thirtti thovfcnt.tbirtytboufand 

Thrie. s. thre. three. 

Thrif. thrive. 

Thruch, throuch. s. through. 

Thud, p. 108. noife of a fall. ' ' 

Tibbe. In Scotland Tibbe is 
the diminutive o/Tfabel. 

Tild down./. 1 7 7. pitched. qa. 

Till. s. to p. 16. when, query. 

Timkin. diminutive of Tmdtby* 

Tint. s. /^?. 

Too-fall. f s. £. ^ 74. twilight. 

Traiterye. . treafin. 

Trie. s. fre. /r«. 

Trichard. treacherous, f. tri- 
cheur. 

Trifthen. friVJ, deceive. 

Trough, trouth.' troth. 

Trow, think, believe, trufl. 

Trumped, p. 1 5. boafted, told 
bragging lies, lying ftories. 
So in the North they fay , 
" Tbafs a Trump," /. e. a 
lie. " She goes about trump- 
" ing;" i. *« telling lies. 
Trumps made of tree. p. at. 

perhaps 


The God. £. 1 5 fcems contract- 
ed for The he. i. e. high God. 

• So in Chaucer, paflim. Canterb. Tales. Vol. I. p. 308. 

" God let him never the." 
•J* u Toofell of the Nigbt," feems to be an image drawn from a fuf- 
peadod c«nopy, fo let fall as to cover what is below. (Mr. Lambx.) 


I 


S»8 


A e LOSS A R ¥• 


perhaps " woodentrumpeU r" 
mufical inftrumentsfit enough 
for a mock turnameut. . 

Tuke glide keip. 8. &£/ * Wo/r 
*y* i^o/r for. 

Turnes a crab. yfr. at the fire: 
roafls a crab. 

Twirtle twift. s. p. 101'. tho- 
roughly twifled: " twifled^ 
«« twirled tiviftr f. tortille. 

V. 

Vair. Somerfetjb. Dialed, fair. 

Valzient. 8. valiant. 

Uch. wrr£. 

.Vive. t. 179. Som.five. 

Unfeeled , p. opened ; f *r« 
in Falconry. 

Unmufit. 8. undifturbedyuncon- 
jounded. perb. unmuvit. 

Unfonfie. s. unlucky > unfortu- 
nate. 

Vricrs. Som. friers. />. 290. (if 
w Vicars, in PCC.) 

TTthers. s. stffo/v. 

\satD.Som.probabfyforfaitben f 
i. e. faiths ; a/ boufen % clofen % 
&c. 

W. 

Wa. s . />. 9 5 . way.p*%j 5 . wo& 

Wad. s. 'would. 

Waine. waggon. 

Wallowit. >. faded, withered* 

Warae. 8. womb. 

Wan neir. s. drew near. 

Wanrufe. s. uneajy. 

War ant wys. ^.8. wary and 

wife. 
Ward. s. watch f fentinel. 
Warke. s. 'work. 
Warld. s. world. 
Waryd. s. accurfed. 
Wate. s. weete, wete, witte, 

wot, wote, wotte. know. 


Weak,weel,weil,wele.s. woefo 
Wearifu\ wearifbme> tire* 

fomej difiurbing. >, 

Wee. 8,. little* 
Weet. 9. wet. 
Weid. 8* wede, weed, cloatbs, 

clothing. 
Weldyngc. ruUng. . 
Weinde.s.weude, wcnt,wechd « 

weened^ thought. , j 

Wene j weneft. ween \weemfti 
Wend, wenden. go. 
Wende. went. p. 9. wcadetii. 

goetb. 
Wer. were. V 

Wereth. p r 174. defendetb* * 
Werre : weir;. 8. <umbt« Warns* 

8. war's. • « 

Wes. 'was. ' 

Weftlin. s. weAern. 
Whang, a. a large flue. 
Wheder. 'whither. •' 

Whelyng. wheeling. .1 »' 

Whig.yoar whey, or buttermilk 
Whorles. Set Spindles. 
Wildings, wild apples. 
Winfome. 8. agreeable, en* 

gaging. 
Win. %. get, gain. 
Vf\rkew\Gicr. workmorewifelj ' 
Wifs; wift. know\ knew. 
Withouten. without. 
Wobfter. s. webfter. weaver. 
Wode-ward. p. 38. towards 

the wood. 
Woe worth, woe be to [tbee.] 
Won. wont, ufage. 
Wonders, wonder ous. 
Wood, mad, furious. 
Wote,w6t.ibww;.I vfote.verHy. 
Worlhipfvlly frended. p. 255. 

of worfbipful friends. 
Wow. An exclamation of won- 
der \ alio vow. land. Dialecl. 

Wreake. 


A GLOSSARY, 




Vfreekt.pwfue remengefafly* 
W reach, s. wretcbednefs. 
Wrouzt. 'wrought \ 
Wynnen. win, gain, 
WUTe./t. 8. direS, govern, ta%e 
care of. A. S. pirr lans 

Y. 

Y. !. Y fynge. Ifing. 

Yae. s. each. 

Y bearc j Y-boren P beare ; 

borne, fo Y-founde. found. 

Y-ma«L made. Y-wonnc. 

ijuon. 
Y-corc. cbofen. 
Y-wis* [I know] verify* 
Y-zote. molten, melted. 
Yalping. s. yelping. 
Ycha. ilka. *#*£, every. 
Ycholde, yef. IJhould, if* 
Ychon. each one. 
Yearded, p. 276. buried, 
Ycde, yode. 'went. 


Yfere. t&*tber f ' 

Yf.if. % 

YU. *tf. 

Yn. Ac*/*, £o*rc. 

Ys.p. 1 0. w./. 4. bis\ p.t.m bis* 

Z. 

Zacring bell . Som. Saving bell. 
4 #///* fo?tf r»/y ft «v* no- 
tice of the elevation of the bojl. 
(ItisZtzxinginPCC.p. 292.) 

Zede. p. yede. <utf»f. 

Zee: zeene. Som. fee ; J&**, 

Zef. yef. if. 

Zeirs. «. years. 

Zone, take care of. A. S« 
jeman. 

Zent, through. A. S. jeon^. 

Zeftrene. s.yefier-e*en. 

Zit. s. zet. j*/. 

Zoud. s. you'd, you would. 

Zule. s. yule, cbriflmas* 

Zung. s. jk?kȣ. 


ADDITIONAL NOTES. 

Page 142. 

775/ L<w$> celebrated by Gafcoigne in this Poem, was Catha- 
rine, daughter of Edmond, fecondlord Cbandos, wife if William 
lord Sands. See Edmondfon % s Peerage \ 

Pag/ 184. 

Mr. Lamhein his notes to thepoerh on the Battle of Hodden field, 
contends that the name o/Horsley is a mijlake, and that the 
expert bowman, rwbo Jbot Sir Andrew Burton, was -of the fa- 
mily gf Hustler, long feated near Stockton, in Cleveland^ See 
Notes, pag.*$. J ■ - J ~ 


ADDITIONS 

T O 

The Essay on Pierce Plowman's Visions. 

TO the lift of poems in the Alliterative Metres 
•the editor can add another, which he has lately 
met with in MS *. It begins thus 

Crift Crowned JCyng, that on Cros dideft f , 

And art Comfort of all Care, thow J kind go out of Gouts* 

With thi i/alwes in //even ffcried mote thu be; ' 

And thy JPbrlhipful fferkts /ifbrfh-ped ewe, 

That fuche Landry £ignes£heweft uat«m»n, 

In Z)remyng, in Drecchyng§, and in Z>erke Cwenat% 

The Author from this proemiam takes occasion to 
give an account of a Dream, that happened to himfelf s 
which he introduces with the following cireumftaaees* 

Ones y me Ordayncd, as y have Ofte doon, 

With JFrendes, and FeUwes, frendemen, and others 

And Caught me in a Company. on Corpus Chrifti even. 

Six, other || Seven myle, oute of £uthampt«*n, 

To take Afelodye, and Afirthes, among my Makes j 

With Jledyng of ROMAUNCES, and iJevelyng among, 

The jDym of the JDerknefle Drewe me into the weft; 

And beGon for to fpryng in the Grey day. 

Than Lift y up my Xydties, and Loked in the fky, 

And Afnewd by the Amende Cours, hit clered in the eft » 

.Blyve y Buiktd me down, and to 2?ed went, 

For to Comforte my ATynde, and Cacche a flcpe* 

x He then defcribes his dream. 

• In a fmall 4to MS. containing 38 leaves in private hands. 

•J- Didft dye. J though. § being overpowered. 1 i. e. either, or* 

9 Methoughfc 


ON' ALLITERATIVE METRE. 401 

' Methoeght that y flbved pa High on an Bill, 
1 And Joked Doun on a Dale Depeft of othre ; 
Thcr y Sawe in my 5ighte a Selcouthe peplc ; 
The Multitude was fo Afocbe, it M ightc not be nombred : ' 
Methoughte y herd a Crowned Xyng, of his Comunes axe 
.. .Jk Soleyne J Subfidie, to Sufteyne his wares, 

• • • 
With that a Clerk JCheled adowne and Carped thefe wordes, 

Liege Lord, yif it you Like to Liften a while, 
Som 5awes of Salomon y {hall you fliewe fone. 

The writer then gives a folemn le&ure to kings on 
the art of governing. From the demand of fubfidies 
4 to fufteyne his wcrres', I am inclined to believe this 
poem cetnpo&d in the reign of K. Henry Vth. as the 
MS. appears from a fubfequent entry to have been writ* 
ten before the 9th of Henry VI. The whole poem con- 
tains bat 146 Lines. 

The Alliterative Metre was no lefs popular among 
the old Scottifli poets, than with their brethren on 
this fide the Tweed. In Maitland's Collection of 
ancient Scottifh Poems, MS. in the Pepyfian library, 
is a very long poem in this fpecies of verification, thus 
infcribed, • 

Hcxk begins the Tretis of the Twa Marriet Wemen, and thq 
Wedo, compylit be Mai&er William Dunbar. 


" Apon the Aiidfummer evin jfefirrieft of nichtis 

" I jlfuvit furth all ane Jlfeid as Mdnight was pall 

" Befyd ane Gudlie Green Garth *, full of Gay flouris 

*' Hegeit f of an Huge ificht with Hawthorne treis 

" Quairon ane J?ird on an 2Franfche fo Birft out hir notis 

•* That nevir ane lilythfuller ifird was on the 2?euche || hard & c, 


*» 


J folemn. 
• Garden* f Hedged. J Bough* 

Vol. IL D d The 


* 


40* ADDITIONS TO ESSAY 

The Author pretends to over-hear three goffips fitting 
in an arbour, and revealing all their fecret methods of 
alluring and governing the other fex ; it is a fcvere and 
humourous fatire on bad women, and nothing inferior 
to Chaucer's Prologue to his Wife of Bath's Tale. As 
Dunbar lived till about the middle of the fixteerith cen- 
tury, this poem was probably com pofed after Scottish 
Fibld (described above, in p, 277,) whith is the lateft 
fpecimen I have met with written in England. This 
poem contains about five hundred lines. 

But the current ufe of the Alliterative Metre in 
Scotland, appears more particularly from thofe popular 
vulgar prophecies, which are dill printed for the ufe of 
the lower people in Scotland, under the. names of 
Thomas the Rymer, Marvellous Merlinc, &c. 
This collection feems to have been pot together, after 
the acceffion of James I. to the crown of England, and 
xnoft of the pieces in it, are in the metre of Pierce 
Plowman's Vifions. The firft of them begins thus. 

" Merling fayes in his book, who will Acad Aigbt, 

" Although his -Sayings he uncouth, they. Shall be true found. 

" In the fcventh chanter, read /Fhofo Xftll, 

" One thoufand and more aftea Chrift's birth, &c,** 

And the Prophefie of Bsid. 

*' Betwixt the chief of -Summer and the Sad winter j 
€t Efefore the Heat of fummcr Happen mall a war 
" That £urop's lands ITarneftly (hall be wrought 
" And £arneft £nvy matt laft but a while, &c." 

So again the Prophefie of Berlinotonv 

" When the Ruby is Uaifed, Rcfk is there none, 

" But much Rancour fliall Rite in Uiver-tnd plain 

" Much Sorrow is Seen through a Suth-hound 

« That beares Homes in his Head like a wyld Hart, kt." 

q In 


ON ALLITERATIVE METRE. 4#J 
In like Metre is the Prophefie of Waldhave* 

*' Upon Lowdon iaw alone as I Z,ay, 

" Looking to the .Lennox, as me Lief thought, 

" The firft MortAng of Afay, Afedicine to feek 

" For Malice and JJfelody that Moved me fore, &c. M 

And laftly, that in titled, The Prophefie of Gild a s# 

" When holy kiik is bracked and JPill has no JPIt 
«« And Paftors are Pluckt, and Pil'd without Pity 
*' When Idolatry Is In ens and re 
" And fpiritual paftours are vexed away, &c." 

It will be obferved in the foregoing fpecimens, that 
the Alliteration is extremely negle&ed, except in the 
third and fourth in fiances ; although all the reft are 
written in imitation of the cadence ufed in this kind 
of metre. It may perhaps appear from an attentive per- 
ufal, that the poems afcribed to Berlington and Wald- 
have are more ancient than the others : indeed the firft 
and fifth appear evidently to have been new modelled; 
if not in tire ly compofed about the beginning of the laft 
century, and are probably the lateft attempts, ever made 
in this fpecies of verfe. 

In this and the foregoing Ess a rare mentioned all 
the fpecimens I have met with, of tjk& Alliterative Metre 
without rhyme : but inftances dccur fometfmesin^jold 
Manofcripts, of poenis written both with finally mes 
and the internal cadence and alliterations oftlft^etre 
of Pierce' Plowman. ."* 

THE |ND"OF THE ESSA Y^ 


-POST-SCRIPT : " 

TO Tfb-REMARKS ON THB^MfeW'-FfT** 

Since page 168 was printed } pff 9 fpafons have offered? which 
lead us to tbiak that the wordYiV^ov^inattyfigMJied ** dpo- 
" etic Jlrain, imfi* or " poriri" ; for in thefe fenfes it is 
ufed by the Anglo-Saxon writers. ~^thui K. JElfred in his Bo- 
etiusy having given a *uerfion of lib. %. metr. 5. adds 9 Dape* 
pipoxn tha thar- pitte afun-jen hsepe, p % 6$, i. e. When 

t( wifdom 


404 


POST-SCRIPT. 


•* ivifdom had fang tbefe [FlTTl] •uerfei." And bt tbt Proem 
U tbt fame bosk F™ on p«e> " put int* [FiTT] verfe." 
So in Ccdmcn, p. 4.5. Feanb on piece, fetmi to mean " com- 
" pofed a fang," er " petm." 

Spinier has fifed tbt fame -ward to denote, " a firain of 
' nnt/ic ;" fee biipatm, intitled COLLIN Chut' name home again, 
•oibertbefap, The Shepherd of the ocean [Sir Walt, Raleigh] 

Provoked me to play lome pisaiant fit. 

And when he heard the mufic which I made 

He found himfelf full greatjye pleas'd at it &c. 

Front being applied to Mafic, thil ivcrd ixai eajily transferred 
to Dancing; thus in lie oldplay o/'Kuftli SuufTltltf (Jeep. 114.) 

Jwventusfayi. 

By the mafTe I would fayne go daunce a FiTTE. 
And from being ufed as a Part er Ditnfion in a Ballad, Poem, &e. 
it is applied by Bale to a SeSion or Chapter at a Book, (tboagb I 
believe in a fenfe of ridicule er farcafm) for thus be intitles t<at» 

Oaptert of bis «nniillj Jfattigr*/ pi. %d. via. -fol. 49 . 

« The ffrft Fttt of Anlelme with ftynge Wyllyam Rufua." 

jol. 50. "An odier Fytt of Anlelme with kynge 

«■ Wyllyain Rufu*," Ste alfo Glefi. of Fol. I. 

THE END OF VOLUME THE SECOND. 


ANCIENT POEMS, xxxvii 

28. Roberd Kyngt of Cy/jll (or Sicily) fhewing the 
fall of Pride. OF this there is alfo a Copy among the 
Harl. MSS, 1703- (3-) The Camb. MS. begins 

Princis that be prowde in prefe. 

29. Le bone Florence of Rome, beginning thus 

As ferre as men ride or gone, 

30. Dioclejian the Emperour, beginning, 

Sum tyrae ther was a noble man. 

31. The two knightly brothers Amys and Amelion 
(among the Harl. MSS. 23*6. § 42.) is an old Romance 
of Chivalry ; as is alfo, I believe, the fragment of 
the Lady Belejanty the duke of Lombardfs fair daughter, 
mentioned in the fame article. See the Catalog. Vol. z* 

32. In the Edinburgh MS; fo often referred to (pre- 
ferved in the Advocates Library, W. 4. r.) might pro- 
bably be found fome other articles to add to this lift, at 
Well as other copies of fome of (he pieces mentioned ia 
it ; for the whole Volume contains not fewer than 
xxxvii poems or romances, fome of them very long. 
But as many of them have loft the beginnings, which 
have been cut out for the fake of the illuminations; and 
as I have not had an opportunity of examining the MS. 
xnyfelf, I fliall be content to mention only the articles 
that follow *, viz. 

An old Romance about Rouland (not I believe the fa* 
mous Paladine, but a champion named Rouland Louth \ 
quere) being in the Volume, Numb. xxvn. in 5 leaves* 
and wants the beginning. 

# Some, of thjefe I give, though mutilated and diverted of their 
titles, becaufe they may enable a curious inquirer to complete or im- 
prove other copies. 

Vol. III. d 33* Another 


.! 


*s 


xxxvw ANCIENT POEMS. 

33. Another Romance, that feems to be a kind of 
continuation of this laft, intitled, Otuel a Knight* 
(Nomb. xxvm. in 1 1 leaves and a half.) The two firft 
lines are, 

Herkaeth both zinge and old, 
That willcn hercn of battailes bold. 

34. Tie King of Tsrs (Nomb. iv. in 5 leaves and a 
half; it is alfo in the Bodleyan Library, MS. Vernon. 
£ 304O beginning thus, 

Heikiietb to me bothe eld and sing, 
For Maries love that fwete thing. 

35. A Tale or Romance, (Nomb. 1. 2 leaves), that 
wants both beginning and end. The firft lines now re- 
maining are, 

Th Erl him grannted his will y-wis. that the lenient him haden 

y told. 
The Baronnis that were of mikle pris. befor him thay were* 

y-cald. 

36. Another mutilated Tale or Romance (Nomb. in. 
4 leaves). *The firft lines at prefeht are, 

Te Mr Steward wil y gon. and teUen him the fothe of the 
Refey ved beftow fone anon, gif zou will fcrvc and with hir be. 

37. A mutilated Tale or Romance (Numb. xi. in 13 
leaves). The two firft lines that occur are, 

That riche Douke his feft gan hold 
With Erls and with Baronns bold. 

I cannot conclude my account of this curious Ma- 
nufcript, without acknowledging publicly, that I am 
indebted to the friendfhip of the Reverend Dr. Blair, 
the preicnt ingenious ProfciTor of Belles Lettres in the 

7 * Univerfity 


AN CIENT POEMS* xxxix 

Univerlity of Edinburgh, for whatever I know of its 
contents, and for the important additions it has enabled 
me to make to the foregoing Lift. 

Many new references, and perhaps fome additional 
articles might be added to the foregoing Lift from 
Mr. Warton's *« Hiftory of Englifh Poetry," *to. and 
from the Notes to the new Edition of " Chaucer's 
Canterbury Tales," (printed for T. Payne) in 4 Vol. 
8vo. bnt it will be fufficient once for all to refer the 
curious Reader to thofe popular Works. 

The reader will alio fee many interefting particulars 
on the fubject of thefe volumes, a& well as on moft 
points of general literature, when Sir John Hawkins 
fhall publifh his curious " History of Music in 5 
" Vol. 440." a work, which the public has long ex- 
pected with impatience, and from which^the known 
abilities of the author lead us to expect much enter* 
tainment and inflru&ion. 


THE END OF THE ESSAY. 


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